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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Print, Figue, André Masson

André Masson

Print - 26 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print - 10.2 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€800

Print, Lady bird, Guy Allen

Guy Allen

Print - 45 x 45 cm Print - 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€537

Print, Le nid, Jules Milhau

Jules Milhau

Print - 31 x 50 x 0.8 cm Print - 12.2 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

€500

Print, Giant, Peter Blake

Peter Blake

Print - 26 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 10.2 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€600

Print, Venice, Giovanni Korompay

Giovanni Korompay

Print - 50 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€650

Print, Seascape, Carlo Carrà

Carlo Carrà

Print - 25 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print - 9.8 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€800

Print, Mamane, Vasil Angelov

Vasil Angelov

Print - 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€755

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rodolfo Nieto

Rodolfo Nieto

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 14.6 inch

€3,000

Print, Untitled, Will Faber

Will Faber

Print - 28 x 18 cm Print - 11 x 7.1 inch

€777

Print, Poèmes, Nicolas de Staël

Nicolas de Staël

Print - 37 x 22.8 x 2 cm Print - 14.6 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€25,000

Print, Pleine lune, Iris De Mouÿ

Iris De Mouÿ

Print - 37 x 28.5 x 0.01 cm Print - 14.6 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€250

Print, Samson, Ernst Fuchs

Ernst Fuchs

Print - 39.5 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.6 x 12 x 0 inch

€980

Fine Art Drawings, Encoded Power, Tetiana Ocheredko

Tetiana Ocheredko

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€618 €556

Print, Element, Michel DuPont

Michel DuPont

Print - 45.7 x 40.6 cm Print - 18 x 16 inch

€1,015

Fine Art Drawings, Signature 16, Catherine Cazau

Catherine Cazau

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 45 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 17.7 inch

€530

Print, S.Emidio, Kurt Mair

Kurt Mair

Print - 48 x 38 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.9 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€300

Print, Ninetta, Arthure Greuell

Arthure Greuell

Print - 45 x 33 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.7 x 13 x 0 inch

€280

Print, Coils 3B, Matt Neuman

Matt Neuman

Print - 41 x 41 cm Print - 16.1 x 16.1 inch

€850

Print, L'Adour, Philippe Monnet

Philippe Monnet

Print - 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€120

Print, Sans Titre, Bertrand Dorny

Bertrand Dorny

Print - 38 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 15 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€350

Print, Tetis, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

Print - 25 x 28.5 x 0.01 cm Print - 9.8 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Mon oeil, Flo. M

Flo. M

Painting - 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€300

Print, Lettre "I", Fausto Melotti

Fausto Melotti

Print - 30 x 23.5 x 0.05 cm Print - 11.8 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€250

Print, Sans titre, Lionel

Lionel

Print - 29.5 x 23 cm Print - 11.6 x 9.1 inch

€220

Print, Sans titre, Henri Goetz

Henri Goetz

Print - 28.5 x 24 x 0.05 cm Print - 11.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Print, Passion, Georges Rouault

Georges Rouault

Print - 44 x 33 x 5.5 cm Print - 17.3 x 13 x 2.2 inch

€18,600

Print, Huts, Pierre Boncompain

Pierre Boncompain

Print - 31 x 38.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 12.2 x 15.2 x 0 inch

€200

Print, Bélier, Bernard Louédin

Bernard Louédin

Print - 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Print - 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€160

Print, Tiger, Rebecca Whitewood

Rebecca Whitewood

Print - 30 x 25 x 2 cm Print - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,900