Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966) was a Swiss artist known for his haunting sculptures of elongated, skeletal human figures that sought to reveal the inner essence or aura of his subjects. His works combine archaic influences, inspired by Egyptian and classical art he encountered in Paris, with contemporary existential themes, making him one of the 20th century’s most significant sculptors.

Giacometti’s exploration of reality and perception shaped his distinctive style. Raised in Stampa, Switzerland, in an artistic family, he studied in Geneva, Venice, and Rome, absorbing influences from Egyptian, African, and Oceanic art. He moved to Paris in 1922, attending the Académie de la Grande-Chaumière, where his early work was aligned with Cubism before he explored Surrealism in the 1930s.

Following his departure from the Surrealists, Giacometti developed his famous slender figures, reflecting the isolation and fragility of the post-war era. During World War II, he fled Paris, continuing his artistic journey in Geneva. After the war, he returned to Paris, gaining renown through exhibitions at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York. In 1962, he won the grand prize for sculpture at the Venice Biennale, securing his international legacy. His iconic Walking Man I sold for over $104 million in 2010, symbolising his enduring impact on modern art.