Boulder Pile 1962

Alexander Calder made this painting, Boulder Pile, in 1962 using gouache and ink. The marks here are loose, like he’s figuring out the composition as he goes – a real process-oriented approach. Up close, you can see how the ink creates these bold outlines, hugging each form. The gouache is opaque, laid down in flat, confident strokes of primary colours. There’s something playful, almost childlike, in the way he’s simplified the boulders into basic shapes. I like how the black ink pools at the bottom, creating a shadow that grounds the whole arrangement. That yellow shape on the left – it's like a little accent, a visual spark that brings the whole thing to life. Calder's playfulness reminds me of Miró, but with an American straightforwardness. It’s like he’s saying, “Here are some boulders, in their purest form." Art doesn't always have to be complicated; sometimes, it’s just about seeing the world in a new and joyful way.