Swiss sculptor Giacometti has been the subject of numerous biographical and art historical investigations that seem evenly divided among English-, French-, and German-language publications. This book, which takes an overview approach to evaluating Giacometti's place in 20th-century art, offers a scholarly new assessment of his works in three media. The documentation by essayists Karin Von Maur, Dieter Hinisch, and Lucius Grisebach are especially useful in their exploitation of European and non-English language scholarly resources; for readers unable to access the original French and German writings, the summation of conclusions here is invaluable. The result is a richer and more in-depth portrait of Giacometti's artistic intentions. Recommended for academic and specialized research collections and for general collections lacking Herbert Matter's Alberto Giacometti (LJ 11/1/87).

Paula A. Baxter, NYPL

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