Cage

by Alberto Giacometti

Artist Alberto Giacometti (Schweiz, 1901 - 1966)

Alternate Title

Date1930-1931

MediumWood

Dimensions49,8 x 27 x 27 cm (19 5/8 x 10 5/8 x 10 5/8 in.)

Classification

Sculptures

Countries

Switzerland

Credit LineInköp 1964 (Önskemuseet)

On view

Stockholm

RoomGallery 01:6

Object NumberNMSK 1843

CollectionsThe Museum of Our Wishes

About the artworkThe sculpture consists of a cage, a wooden structure that defines the boundary of an inner space where a number of forms interact. They are abstract but could appear to resemble leaves or insects. The two spheres can, with a little imagination, evoke a pair of breasts or eyeballs. Giacometti’s interest in non-Western cultures is evident in the idiom. But Cage has mainly been interpreted as an expression of the artist’s exploration of the relationship between man and woman, artist and model. A struggle of some sort seems to be taking place; the enclosed forms are involved in a mating act of a violent nature. Several Surrealists explored the darker aspects of sexuality as a way of getting in touch with repressed urges, and for Giacometti this interest culminated in a disturbing rape and murder fantasy published in Le Surréalisme au service de la révolution in 1933. Signatures, inscriptions and marks Osignerad Selected exhibition history Alberto Giacometti (1977) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Alberto Giacometti (den 10 oktober 2020 - den 30 maj 2021) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Den underjordiska himlen. Surrealism i Moderna Museets samling (den 26 oktober 2024 - den 17 januari 2027) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Mästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995]Alberto Giacometti : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 12 februari - 27 mars 1977Alberto Giacometti : Ansikte mot ansikte : [Moderna Museet 10/10 2020-17/1 2021]The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Alberto Giacometti : Face to face : [Moderna Museet 10/10 2020-17/1 2021] Bibliography Waldberg, Patrick, Les initiateurs du surréalisme, Bibliothèque d'art Unesco / Albin Michel, ill. s 30. Scheidegger, Alberto Giacometti, Sammlung Horizont, Zürich 1958, ill. Rubin, William S., Dada, Surrealism and Their Heritage, New York 1968, s 115, ill. s 116. Alberto Giacometti, Paris: Orangerie des Tuileries, Réunion des Musées Nationaux 1969, ill.nr 25, s 22. Hohl, Reinhold, Alberto Giacometti, Stuttgart 1971, s 56. Alberto Giacometti, a retrospective exhibition, New York: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 1974, s 63. Alberto Giacometti, Stockholm: Moderna Museet 1977, ill. Alberto Giacometti, Plastiken - Gemälde - Zeichnungen, Duisburg: Wilhelm-Lehmbruck-Museum & Mannheim: Städtische Kunsthale Mannheim 1977-78, ill.(färg) s 135. Hohl, Reinhold & Koepplin, Dieter, Alberto Giacometti, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik, Stuttgart 1981, ill. s 48. Lord, James, Giacometti: A Biography, New York 1985, s 127. Alberto Giacometti 1901-1966, Wien & Edingburgh 1996, ill. nr 13 s 16. Koella, Rudolf, Alberto Giacometti, München: Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung 1997, ill.(färg) s 69. Mundy Jennifer (red.), Desire Unbound, London 2001, s 268. Sculptures par Alberto Giacometti, Christie's Paris 2002, s 47, ill. s 46.

Works by the artist