September 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, September 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/24/2020
Alberto Giacometti autograph letter signed, dated only Sunday but likely from the early 1940s as Giacometti references his young nephew Silvio, and also World War II labor camps. Composed from Giacometti's familial home in Maloja, Switzerland, he writes in black fountain pen to his childhood friend Alice Hirschfeld, translated from French in full,
''Maloja, Sunday / Dear Alice, thank you for your letters and for the postcard, and forgive me for not writing earlier. I would often think of doing it and I always carried your letter in my portfolio with the intention of responding, but you know I am very slow. I only returned to Maloja on Tuesday. The last stretch of time in Paris I had a lot of work and was unable to do anything else, plus it was so hot that I felt like I was in a labor camp, so impatient was I to finish so I could leave. Naturally, the first few days here I felt very tired, all I did was sleep, it's only since yesterday that I've begun to feel alive a little again. I've found that little Silvio has developed a lot, so cute, I play with him all the time, and as for my mother, she is the only one taking care of the child, my brother-in-law and Diego are often up in the mountains, I will also maybe start doing some hikes, but I will also work a little. As you can see, nothing has changed with me, all these months have passed terribly quickly, and in one month I already have to be back in Paris, I have big things to finish before then, or rather for October 15, I regret not being able to stay here as long as I usually do. Will you stay at Chexbres the whole summer? Will you not stop by Maloja? And will you come to Paris in the fall? As you said?
I can stop by Geneva when I return (still not entirely certain), in which case I hope to meet with you. Do you recall our walk at (I don't know how to write the name) in the park? With the big body of water that was frozen over? Well, I am still quite tired and my head is very empty, not a single idea in it, these changes always start by getting disoriented, part of me here, part of me still with my work in Paris. Today the weather was gray and cold, but I still went for a walk.
Dear Alice, sorry for how lousy this letter is, I was impatient to write to you so that you would know that I think of you often and that I would be very happy to see you again, hopefully soon. / Very affectionately, your Alberto''. Two page letter on a single sheet of stationery measures 7'' x 8.25''. Folds, overall in very good to near fine condition. A very rare letter by the artist.
Alberto Giacometti Autograph Letter Signed, Ca. Early 1940s -- ''...I am still quite tired and my head is very empty, not a single idea in it...part of me still with my work in Paris...''
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