Artwork
Der Bildhauer. Annetta und Alberto
Der Bildhauer. Annetta und Alberto is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Giovanni Giacometti. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Created in 1923, Der Bildhauer.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1923, Der Bildhauer. Annetta und Alberto is an oil painting by Swiss artist Giovanni Giacometti. The work belongs to the post‑impressionist period and is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. It presents a quiet interior scene in which two figures, the painter’s wife and son, are shown in conversation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman with short, curly white hair and a man with dark, curly hair, both looking attentively at each other. Their neutral expressions and the intimate setting suggest a domestic moment rather than a formal portrait, highlighting familial ties and the everyday exchange between a mother and her child.
Technique & Style
Giacometti employs a palette of warm yellows, oranges and cool blues to model the background, while the figures are rendered with layered brushwork that conveys texture in clothing and skin. The handling of paint reflects post‑impressionist concerns with color modulation and surface depth, creating a subtle sense of three‑dimensional space.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Giovanni Giacometti, known primarily as the father of sculptors Alberto and Diego, produced this work during a period of heightened artistic activity in early‑twentieth‑century Switzerland.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Ulrico Giacometti (7 March 1868 – 25 June 1933) was a Swiss painter. He was the father of artists Alberto and Diego Giacometti and architect Bruno Giacometti.
