Deux Angles Droits 1971

Alexander Calder made 'Deux Angles Droits,' which translates to 'Two Right Angles,' from painted metal. The colors he chose—blue, white, orange, and black—are so direct; it's like each shape is singing a different note in a simple, joyful song. Look at how the blue circle seems to float above, tethered so delicately to the black form. There is such a lightness here, emphasized by the stark white and the pop of orange peeking out. It’s this balance that gets me. Calder isn’t just arranging shapes. He's thinking about the air around them. This piece reminds me of Joan Miró's playful arrangements. Like Miró, Calder has a knack for making sophisticated art feel like child’s play, which is maybe the most sophisticated thing of all. It is about embracing the open-endedness of form.