Aggressive Stabile 1962

Alexander Calder made this gouache on paper called 'Aggressive Stabile' in 1962. The title makes me think of his sculptures, but here, he's flattened everything, pushing it right up to the surface. There's this juicy orange ground, laid down with confident strokes. It's got a life of its own, with streaks and variations that feel totally intuitive. Then bam! This white, almost exploding form outlined in thick black lines jumps out. The paint application is simple, and direct, but creates a dynamic tension. Look at the bottom left corner, that star-like shape that juts out, the way the black outline wobbles a little, giving the whole thing a playful, human touch. Calder makes me think of Joan Miró, who also played with biomorphic shapes. But Calder's got this American boldness, a real sense of freedom. It’s not about perfection, but about energy, about seeing what happens when you let loose.