Tall Figure II
- Artist: Alberto Giacometti
- Date: 1948–9
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: object: 1680 x 159 x 340 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is the "Tall Figure II" by Alberto Giacometti, a bronze standing woman cast in 1948–49. Giacometti said his figures mirror his own experience of looking at people; he would build up and strip down clay models for years, eroding the outline until only the essential core remained. The result is a fragile, elongated silhouette that many read as a metaphor for post‑war uncertainty. The sculpture measures roughly 1680 mm tall, 159 mm wide and 340 mm deep, a stark, almost skeletal form that commands the space. It was presented by the artist in 1965 and has been shown in major exhibitions worldwide, including a 1950 show in Basel and a 1950 New York display at Pierre Matisse. Known also as "Large Standing Woman," this work exemplifies Giacometti’s shift from objectifying women to treating them as dignified, almost idol‑like beings.
See it in person
Tall Figure II is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
