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, Le blacon, Edouard Manet

Edouard Manet

Print . 48 x 36 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€800

Print, Untitled, Romain Duris

Romain Duris

Print . 44 x 34 cm Print . 17.3 x 13.4 inch

€350

Print, L'atelier, Guy Bardone

Guy Bardone

Print . 50 x 36 cm Print . 19.7 x 14.2 inch

€200

Print, Kitchen Diva, Elvira Bach

Elvira Bach

Print . 49 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print . 19.3 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

€1,809

Print, The Embrace, Felice Casorati

Felice Casorati

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,250

Print, L'udito, Joseph Beuys

Joseph Beuys

Print . 30 x 23.5 cm Print . 11.8 x 9.3 inch

€350

Print, No Title, Francisco Toledo

Francisco Toledo

Print . 42.5 x 32.5 cm Print . 16.7 x 12.8 inch

€1,500

Print, Hand (Truquoise), Smash137

Smash137

Print . 39 x 29 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€1,192

Print, Manifeste, Fernand Léger

Fernand Léger

Print . 48 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

€800

Print, Viene, Enzo Cucchi

Enzo Cucchi

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€300

Print, Untitled, Will Faber

Will Faber

Print . 44 x 32 cm Print . 17.3 x 12.6 inch

€1,900

Print, Boat, Peter Martensen

Peter Martensen

Print . 32 x 47.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 18.7 inch

€387

Print, Vues, Maurice Wyckaert

Maurice Wyckaert

Print . 24 x 32 cm Print . 9.4 x 12.6 inch

€2,500

Print, Sans Titre, Djamel Tatah

Djamel Tatah

Print . 49 x 49 cm Print . 19.3 x 19.3 inch

€800

Print, Faces, Felice Casorati

Felice Casorati

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,250

Print, Button, Domenico Gnoli

Domenico Gnoli

Print . 21 x 29.4 x 0.1 cm Print . 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€14,500

Print, Untitled, Antoni Clavé

Antoni Clavé

Print . 31 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.2 x 8.9 x 0 inch

€1,300

Print, Future, Raphael Soyer

Raphael Soyer

Print . 43.2 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 11 x 2 inch

€1,627

Print, Rose Hand, Adrian Falkner

Adrian Falkner

Print . 39 x 29 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.4 inch

€1,192

Print, Black Flag, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Print . 31 x 31.5 x 0.4 cm Print . 12.2 x 12.4 x 0.2 inch

€6,000

Print, Jazz, Gen Paul

Gen Paul

Print . 36.6 x 27.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 14.4 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€300

Print, Eau, Martin Bigum

Eau

Martin Bigum

Print . 28 x 21 cm Print . 11 x 8.3 inch

€135

Print, Untitled, Enrico Prampolini

Enrico Prampolini

Print . 39 x 49 x 0.2 cm Print . 15.4 x 19.3 x 0.1 inch

€950

Print, Earth, François Boisrond

François Boisrond

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Print, Untitled, Fred Bugs

Fred Bugs

Print . 32 x 46 x 0.3 cm Print . 12.6 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€850

Print, Hand (Violet), Smash137

Smash137

Print . 39 x 29 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€1,192

Print, Bouquet, André Vigud

André Vigud

Print . 38 x 28 cm Print . 15 x 11 inch

€120