Alberto Giacometti

Bourdelle taught him. Masson introduced him to Aragon, Ernst, and Breton (who became a close friend). Others he knew in surrealist circles included Éluard, Prévert, Bataille and Miró. He later met Beckett and Sartre (who accepted him as an influence). Leiris wrote the first article about his work; Genet said in an essay about him that he was the only man he admired. Ernst was inspired to make sculpture after visiting him in Switzerland; Balthus also became close friends with him there. He encouraged Klossowski’s drawing, and was Brauner’s neighbour. An ugly encounter ended a long friendship with Picasso.