The Giacomettis’ experiences and memories of the Val Bregaglia in Switzerland are ever-present in their visual descriptions of the villages and landscape — in the impressionistic portraits of the valley by Giovanni, in the paintings of Stampa’s rural houses and gardens by Augusto, or in some, through the window of the atelier, depicted features of the landscape by Alberto. Besides these artistic residues one can still recognize certain physical remnants of the artists’ life in the valley: the family houses in Maloja, Borgonovo and Stampa; the graves in the Borgonovo cemetery; and especially the atelier in Stampa, originially a wooden barn next to the family house. Refurbished by Giovanni, it later became Alberto’s abode during his annual visits from Paris. Between the irregular scattering of cigarette burns remain the precise positioniong marks used to fix the canvas to portray friends and family, while pointillistic color-fields on the wall evoke the search for the right hue.
The visit of the Giacometti’s atelier in Stampa is a unique opportunity to trace the footsteps of Giacometti and rediscover intact a space that witnessed one of the key artistic productions of the 20th century. (1)