Alberto Giacometti, one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century, is best known for the haunting, stark qualities of his work. His most mature piece, Lustre avec femme, homme et oiseau, an elegant chandelier only ever produced in a limited edition of just three, recently came under the spotlight at Sotheby’s London, offering a rare chance to acquire one of his most admired pieces.
In the years following World War II, Giacometti found himself entirely overcome with a sense of isolation and loneliness. His sculptures, which were already stark to begin with, became ever more austere and basic, reflecting his take on human condition. This particular work – valued at around £6,000,000-8,000,000 – has long been seen as the apotheosis of his Post-War work.
Originally conceived in 1949, but not cast in bronze until 1952, the chandelier embodies the artist’s unique Post-War vision. Depicting a solitary woman in a cage and a man circling it, the artist set out to capture the pathos of an existential crisis, one where captivity and release are not simple binaries, with neither bringing true freedom.
Summarising the piece, Thomas Bompard, Head of Sotheby’s London Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sales, said: “This work represents a tangible coming together of visual arts, decoration and theatre.”