Tate Modern’s staging of the first major UK retrospective of Albert Giacometti places him firmly among the greatest painter-sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Switzerland and raised on Renaissance masterpieces, Giacometti was to experience the full horror of the 1930s, the rise of Fascism and the Second War which cost 60 million lives and affected every human life. Most people will readily recognise his emaciated bronze stick figures reminiscent of holocaust survivors such as ‘Walking Man’ – ironically it’s on the 100 Swiss franc banknote. Indeed, most of us only know Giacometti from the stick figures. This show, which assembles some 250 other drawings, paintings and models created over 50 years, is a chance to put that right.
Until September 10th at Tate Modern, London www.ipmag.link/2p8mzEu
Giacometti Man Pointing, 1947 | Bronze © Alberto Giacometti Estate
