Small

Recent trends in contemporary art have meant that we've grown accustomed to large scale pieces, be that huge canvases, enormous sculptures, or giant installations.

However, the miniature has always been an important part of contemporary art. Be it paintings, sculpture, or photography as well as small format drawings, the reduced dimensions of the artwork puts new constraints on the artist, forcing them to develop their techniques and artistic finesse.

Jeff Wall, an American photographer known for his large scale photographic prints on huge illuminated boxes, has said that “the scale of a piece is not about the dimensions of it, but about the internal tensions within the composition".

Believe it or not, miniature pieces have many advantages. Smaller formats allow the artists to show off a different range of talents and techniques, and sometimes even create the impression of a much higher quality piece – such as engravings or prints. Creating a miniature is a sure sign of precision and skill.

They are also more practical to exhibit than the enormous artworks: we've all got a little space on a shelf ready to welcome a miniature sculpture, photo or drawing.

Another very practical aspect of miniatures is the myriad possibilities for display: you could put together a full shelf of statuettes, or even a dedicated framing wall – which is an increasingly popular method for display, and makes for the perfect decorative addition to a living room or bedroom. It's a mixed composition made up of an array of pieces – you guessed it – all on the same wall. The diminutive size of the miniatures also makes it easier to make sure your favourite pieces are displayed in pride of place.

Even artists who are known for their monumental works are slowly getting into miniatures, like Jeff Wall in his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation.

The miniature is making a big name for itself as a growing trend across the contemporary art world; from Gaspard Mitz, who creates tiny versions of the interiors of famous art galleries in his 'Box Stories', to the photography of Samsofy, who recreates scenes from daily life with miniscule Lego 'actors'.

Last but not least, the small scale of the pieces means that even big names come with small price tags, meaning that miniatures make excellent presents. So, go on, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of miniature works now…

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24h du Mans 1970-Steve McQueen venu en repérages pour son film « Le Mans » qu’il tournera l’année suivante, 13 ou 14 juin 1970.

Jacques Violet

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

Sold

24h du Mans 1970-La MS 660 n°31de Beltoise et Pescarolo à une roue de la Porsche 917K n°23 d’Attwood et Herrmann, 13 juin 1970.

Jacques Violet

Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

Sold

24h du Mans 1970-La Porsche 917 LH n°3 de G. Larrousse et Willi Kauhsen suivie par la Chevron B16 de C. Baker et D. Martland. 13 ou 14 juin 1970.

Auzelina Piyãko Asháninka and daughter making seed necklaces. Kampa do Rio Amônea Indigenous Territory, state of Acre (M)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

€9,102

Auzelina Piyãko Asháninka and daughter making seed necklaces. Kampa do Rio Amônea Indigenous Territory, state of Acre (S)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

€8,647

Mount Roraima covered in clouds on the border between Brazil and Guyana. Monte Roraima National Park, State of Roraima, Brazil (M)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

€9,102

Mount Roraima covered in clouds on the border between Brazil and Guyana. Monte Roraima National Park, State of Roraima, Brazil (S)

Marauiá mountain range. Yanomami Indigenous Territory, Municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, State of Amazonas, Brazil (M)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

€9,102

Marauiá mountain range. Yanomami Indigenous Territory, Municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, State of Amazonas, Brazil (S)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 27.9 x 35.6 cm Photography - 11 x 14 inch

€8,647

Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

€9,102

Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 27.9 x 35.6 cm Photography - 11 x 14 inch

€8,647

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Categories

Subcategories

Small

Tamarynd #5

Naissance

Éclat de cosmos

Apesanteur

The enigma - H0371

Backpacker II

Série Backstage - F0597 – The alien

Collection Purity - Un Anonyme Nu Dans Le Salon - HB1809

Collection Purity - Un Anonyme Nu Dans Le Salon - HB1552

Origine

ADN Symphonie

Latex glove

TEsTudiNeUS

Backpacker

araneosuS

Precari deoS

araneosuS

motuS

lntROrsUS

110.01.98

161.03.11

Bending Orchid

Fiddlehead Fern

Australian Wildflower

Ma liberté

121.05.01

La lune n'a rien à craindre des loups #15

La lune n'a rien à craindre des loups #34

La lune n'a rien à craindre des loups #13

La lune n'a rien à craindre des loups #19

La lune n'a rien à craindre des loups #14

Yves Saint Laurent, préparation de sa 1ère collection

Sci sull'acqua Venezia

Erratum

Nicolas de Staël dans son atelier

Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel

Hip Hop sous la Tour Eiffel

24h du Mans 1970-La fumée au départ des bolides de la 38e édition, 13 juin 1970.

24h du Mans 1970-La MS 650 n°32 de Brabham et Cevert accidentée lors des essais, 10 juin 1970.

24h du Mans 1970-Steve McQueen venu en repérages pour son film « Le Mans » qu’il tournera l’année suivante, 13 ou 14 juin 1970.

24h du Mans 1970-La MS 660 n°31de Beltoise et Pescarolo à une roue de la Porsche 917K n°23 d’Attwood et Herrmann, 13 juin 1970.

24h du Mans 1970-La Porsche 917 LH n°3 de G. Larrousse et Willi Kauhsen suivie par la Chevron B16 de C. Baker et D. Martland. 13 ou 14 juin 1970.

Arbres - 2049

Marks (Metallic Version - ed.1/1)

Kamtchatka, Russia (M)

Kamtchatka, Russia (S)

West Papua, Indonesia (M)

West Papua, Indonesia (S)

Ecuador III (M)

Ecuador III (S)

Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia (M)

Karnataka, India (M)

Karnataka, India (S)

Territoire Indigène de Raposa-Serra do Sol, Etat du Roraima (M)

Territoire Indigène de Raposa-Serra do Sol, Etat du Roraima (S)

Rio Negro, Etat d’Amazonas (S)

Ecuador V (M)

Ecuador V (S)

Patagonia, Chile (M)

Patagonia, Chile (S)

Rajasthan, India (M)

Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia (M)

Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia (S)

Rio Negro, Etat d’Amazonas (M)

Rio Negro, Etat d’Amazonas (S)

Okavango Delta, Botswana (M)