MULE 1927

This is Alexander Calder’s wire sculpture 'Mule', made with wire and a wooden base. It’s all about line, isn’t it? Like drawing in space. What I love about this piece is how Calder captures the essence of the animal with so little. It’s like a cartoon, but so full of character. I’m looking at that bend in the back, that single wire that somehow suggests the weight and weariness of a working animal. You can almost see it breathing, right? There’s something so playful and light about it, despite the subject matter. The texture of the wire, the way it catches the light, it’s almost like he’s sketching in the air. You know who else did that, in a way? Giacometti. But where Giacometti is all angst, Calder is pure joy. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Look, art doesn’t have to be serious, it can be fun.’