Traces of a Friendship: Alberto Giacometti

Ernst Scheidegger; Translated from German by Laura G. Downs

ISBN 10: 3858811262 / ISBN 13: 9783858811264

Published by Scheidegger & Spiess, Zürich and Frankfurt, 2001

In English. As you can see from the photos, the covers are in quite decent condition with just some light surface scratching and a thin crease at the top edge of the spine. There's not much by way of soiling. The book is square and very solidly bound from cover to cover, nicely tight pages, no binding issues. The pages are exceptionally clean. Scrolling through, I'm not seeing any soiling. There is light toning at the margins, as you often see with glossy paper. There is a tiny crease at the very tip of the top corners of the early pages. By the time you get to the illustrations this crease has become light and vague. There are no placeholder or turned- down corner creases. There are no markings. No attachments of any kind. And no one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. 'Ernst Scheidegger, a friend of the sculptor, knew a very different Giacometti. Scheidegger accompanied him to his studio, ate and drank with him, and relaxed with him in his family home. Traces of a Friendship is a document of this intimate life of Giacometti, consisting of photographs that Scheidegger took over the course of two decades. Scheidegger opens Giacometti's studio and house in Maloja, Switzerland, to readers, allowing them rare access to the most closely held aspects of the artist's life. Sketching in his studio, having a cup of coffee, his works in progress, his art in installation views, even his sleeping cats---Scheidegger captures the essence of the artist's working life in images artful in their own right. "Alberto Giacometti?s nature, work, and thoughts fascinated me and other friends tremendously," wrote Scheidegger. "" I was one of the lucky ones allowed to experience his life. With Traces of a Friendship, Scheidegger expands that circle of the "Lucky ones" to include all those equally fascinated by this modern master.'. Seller Inventory # 002494

Synopsis:

This book is a unique and intimate portrait of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. "With this volume I wish to document Giacometti's personality from a completely different standpoint. I do so using photographs taken almost continuously from 1943 up to the time of his death; these were the twenty years in which his art became well-known. Alberto Giacometti's nature, work and thoughts fascinated me and other friends tremendously. I was one of the lucky ones allowed to experience his life. My encounters with him, and the resulting photographs, were of a more intimate, personal sort. Giacometti was not a legend to me. I treasured his absolute will for freedom. He was often cunning and harsh with his judgements and opinions, yet at the same time sensitive. His contradictoriness - often described by others - to me represented an expression of his personality, fervent existence and presence. I loved and respected this man. I believe his work belongs among the most important works of the contemporary art scene." - Ernst Scheidegger.

About the Author: Ernst Scheidegger, born in 1923, was a founder member of Magnum in Paris, and later a teacher at the renowned College for Design in Ulm (Germany). For more than twenty years he was picture editor of the Neue Zurcher Zeitung. At the same time he ran an art gallery and a publishing house, now Scheidegger & Spiess Publishers. He has also made film portraits of artists.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Traces of a Friendship: Alberto Giacometti
Publisher: Scheidegger & Spiess, Zürich and Frankfurt
Publication Date: 2001
Binding: Soft cover
Illustrator: Photographs by Ernst Scheidegger
Condition: Very Good