Lunar View 1961

Alexander Calder made "Lunar View" and I am struck by its playful simplicity. The way he lays down these bold, flat colors—sunny yellow, tomato red, and that surprising Kelly green crescent moon—it feels almost childlike, but in the best way possible. It’s about getting down to basics, isn’t it? Look at the texture in those black lines, the way the printmaking process gives them a slight roughness. It’s like seeing the evidence of the hand, a reminder that art is made, not just conceived. That one red circle, sitting plumply in the middle, it's so solid and sure of itself, grounding the whole composition. Calder’s love of shapes and forms, something that runs through his mobiles and sculptures too, he's like Miro, but with more of a graphic punch. It reminds us that art doesn’t always have to be serious; sometimes, it can just be a joyful experiment.