Black Camel with Blue Head and Red Tongue 1971

Here we have Alexander Calder's striking sculpture, "Black Camel with Blue Head and Red Tongue," standing at just over 53 centimeters. The sculpture presents a captivating study in contrasts, primarily through its stark black body juxtaposed against the vibrant blue and red accents on the camel's head. Calder masterfully utilizes metal strips to define the camel's form, reducing it to its most essential lines and curves. This simplicity lends the piece an abstract quality, challenging our perception of the familiar. The unexpected choice of colors—a cool blue for the head and a fiery red for the tongue—introduces a playful yet unsettling dynamic, destabilizing the naturalistic expectations one might have for such a subject. This bold color contrast draws attention to the head, disrupting the overall structural flow and prompting us to reconsider the symbolic implications of these colors. The sculpture operates within a semiotic system, where color and form intersect to create new layers of meaning.