Pointing Man or L’Homme au doigt is a bronze sculpture created by Alberto Giacometti. The figure represents a man with unrealistic proportions pointing with his right hand. At first look, the sculpture looks almost intimidating as the distorted man calls to action with his gesture. Experts interpret it in different ways, but one of the meanings is the officer commanding its troops to engage in war. I can definitely see this interpretation in the sculpture as the man looks assertive in his actions, and the distorted proportions make him even more terrifying. The figure is also very thin but almost 1.8 meters high, making it taller than most people. I believe it creates an additional sense of discomfort, and I would like to witness it in the museum with my own eyes. Ultimately, I like this artwork precisely because of how intimidating and distorted it appears and conveys the message of war horrors.
The sculpture also has a vast historical and philosophical value. The figure was created shortly after World War II and represented the terrors of the war. However, there is also another interpretation that the pointing man is the orator that will lead humanity to prosperity after the war. I can understand this message, but to me, the distorted proportions signal more corrupted thoughts of the man. In my opinion, lengthy limbs, the blurred face, and intimidating posture convey a more distorted perspective on war and deaths. It is also the most expensive sculpture of all time, and it had various owners over its lifetime. Moreover, it was the sculpture that defined the future career of Alberto Giacometti and brought him fame. Ultimately, I really like the sculpture, and I believe that the author wanted to convey the tragic feeling of war in his artwork.