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 Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Mästerverken åter. Verk av spanska konstnärer ur Samling S. runt den återbördade Picassos Källan. (1995) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Alberto Giacometti (den 10 oktober 2020 - den 30 maj 2021) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Internationell Surrealism (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Den underjordiska himlen. Surrealism i Moderna Museets samling (den 26 oktober 2024 - den 17 januari 2027) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Alberto Giacometti (1977) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Ny presentation av samlingen (2000-2002) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Alberto Giacometti : Face to face : [Moderna Museet 10/10 2020-17/1 2021]The Masterpieces are back! : Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [May 6th - August 27th 1995]Alberto Giacometti : Ansikte mot ansikte : [Moderna Museet 10/10 2020-17/1 2021]Alberto Giacometti : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : 12 februari - 27 mars 1977Mästerverken åter! Moderna Museet, Spårvagnshallarna : [6 maj - 27 augusti 1995] 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