Utitled 1963

In this untitled work by Alexander Calder, made in 1963, swathes of vivid color dance with dynamic lines and forms, all on paper. The initial impression is of playful spontaneity. I can imagine Calder in his studio, maybe with jazz music playing, allowing the brush to lead the way across the surface. Look at the way the violet bleeds and pools, creating a luminous backdrop for the black lines, which seem to be both contained and set free by the composition. These lines, some solid and unwavering, others like playful coils, interact with blotches and circles of colour, each shape influencing the other, resonating with a spirit of invention and innovation. The texture is crucial here: thin washes of paint create depth and contrast with the starkness of the lines. Calder wasn’t just making a picture; he was exploring how forms can suggest movement, how color evokes feeling. For me, this piece is reminiscent of Miro's biomorphic forms, which I also use in my own paintings to abstractly represent the human body, and an openness to improvisation. Calder embraces ambiguity, and invites us to experience a space of curiosity and wonder.