Hands Holding the Void, 1934
Plaster, 61 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (156.2 x 34.3 x 29.2 cm)
Anonymous Gift
1950.730
©2004 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
This original plaster sculpture is the first-known example of a complete, representational human figure in Giacometti's oeuvre. Created during the seven-year period of the artist's association with the Surrealists, the stylized female figure exists in an imaginary space defined by a series of abstract framing devices. The large, detailed eyes recall the visionary figuration of Byzantine mosaics. Poised precariously on the edge of a mystical experience, the figure remains suspended in a state of temporal confinement. Despite this tension, the long, expressive hands emerge from the frame, offering a metaphysical void for the viewer's consideration.
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