Pioneer of Abstraction

Augusto Giacometti (1877 –1947) was a Swiss artist from Stampa, Graubünden, known predominantly as a painter in the Art Nouveau and Symbolism movements, as well as  for his work in stained glass. He was a proponent of murals and a designer of popular posters. He is cousin of Giovanni Giacometti –  father of Alberto, Diego and Bruno Giacometti – comprising the successful Giacometti dynasty of painters and artisans.

According to Tutt’Art,

The real focus of Augusto Giacometti’s art is his preoccupation with color as a medium for expression and design. His talent for colors is very conspicuous already in his early works, which were still largely Art Nouveau in style. And this master of color was to ultimately become a pioneer of abstraction in art.

His mastery of color is evident in Giacometti’s Poppy on Gray Background (1932).

Click for Enlarged Detail:

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html , (detail).

Augusto Giacometti (1877 – 1947), MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND,1932, Signed with the artist’s initials lower right; Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 cm, Source: Sotheby’s, Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html

Details:

• Augusto Giacometti
• 1877 – 1947
• MOHN AUF GRAUEM GRUND, 1932
• Signed with the artist’s initials lower right;
  signed, titled and dated on verso
• Oil on canvas
• 36 x 44 cm
• Source: Sotheby’s
• Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/schweizer-kunst-swiss-art-zh1806/lot.54.html

Sources:

Maria Laterza, TuttArt, “Augusto Giacometti”, Nov. 2014, (accessed 3 Dec 2018), (https://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2014/11/Augusto-Giacometti.html

Thanks for Reading! 🙂

The End