"Man Pointing" by Alberto Giacometti: A critical analysis.

The general appearance of the figure is remarkable yet simple. A closer look, however, reveals a dramatic texture that compensates for the lack of physical bulk. Giacometti uses a rough surface to vivify this figure and to provide a stunning optical effect. Looking closely, I am reminded of an asteroid's surface. This rough look adds to the feeling that the figure portrayed is poor, hungry, and desperate. His face is gaunt, his ribs sticking out of his chest. Both the eyes and the nose are distorted and elongated like the body. The eyes connote a look of confusion or sadness. Meanwhile, his mouth, which is somewhat agape, connotes a look of surprise or astonishment. The contour of the face, which is somewhat ovular, jagged and crater-like, creates shadows that serve to bring out the depth of this piece.

All good artists transfer their emotions and 'soul' into their pieces of work. The figure was given a sleek and skeletal attribute in order to eliminate all dispensable weight while retaining only the essential elements that the artist wanted to convey. By keeping physical bulk to a minimum, he focuses more on his inner feelings and his raw emotions.

If an artist's work is truly an embodiment of his emotions, then there are several clues that point to Giacometti as a man who felt removed, distant, and alienated from society. This tall and thin figure is distorted and seems very frail and fragile. Whether you're looking at this piece close-up or from a distance, the piece seems nearly invisible. It seems as if the piece could even dissolve or disappear from sight. Finally, the stark use of empty space connotes a feeling of loneliness and confusion.

Originally a student of Surrealism, Giacometti's presence was strongly felt. However, in the years prior to the war, he began to make a transition away from this art form to working with models, in sculptures and in paintings. Declared a heretic by fellow Surrealists, he went underground and continued to try to develop his newly adopted style. But success did not come easily. "To my horror, the sculptures became smaller and smaller...a large figure seemed to me untrue, a small one intolerable, and often they became so small that with one touch of my knife, they disappeared into dust.". Several more years of experimentation, refinement and frustration had passed when his vision became crystallized. His sense of reality had completely changed. "People and objects became mere blobs without meaning. It was a completely unknown sight. I had the impression that reality had completely changed. It was something never seen before."