L'Atelier aux Bouteilles (The Studio with Bottles)

Hand signed by the artist "Alberto Giacometti" in pencil, lower right, and numbered "29/100" in pencil, lower left.  In excellent condition. Catalogue reference: Lust 100

Giacometti's studio was located in Paris at 46 rue Hippolyte Maindron, off of the rue d'Alésia. He worked there from 1927 until his death in 1965. This lithograph was created during a period in which Giacometti, created works reflecting placidness, understatement, and stability of composition, ultimately giving rise to an atmosphere of serenity. Despite the manifest tranquility, rapid execution is suggested by the ease taken in creating the loose lines. Giacometti was accustomed to drawing with lithographic crayon on transfer paper rather than on stone, a technique that created works which resembled crayon drawing. This technique preserved every line Giacometti put down since this particular method made it impossible to erase lines.

Studio interiors were typical subjects for Giacometti's lithographs from the 1950s onward. This particular subject is considered psychoanalytical by some because it is a refection, in a sense, of Giacometti as an artist. Giacometti's studio interiors also often included some of his sculptures as we can see on the right hand side of this lithograph. The inclusion of sculptures alludes to Giacometti being intrigued by creating studies of his finished sculptures. When asked about these sculpture studies, Giacometti expressed his feelings towards the process: "Sometimes I'm surprised I was so good, and sometimes that I missed the mark so far. But of course when drawing them one sees them in an entirely different way, one sees their mood rather than their form" (Lust 1970, p.74).