Clustered Orbs 1974

Alexander Calder gave us "Clustered Orbs" in bright gouache, and it’s like a party on paper. The colors are so straightforward, like a kid’s building blocks – red, yellow, blue, plus these creamy white orbs outlined in black. There's no blending, no shading, just pure, unadulterated color thrown down with a joyful abandon. Looking closely, you can see the hand of the artist in every stroke. The paint is laid on thick, almost gloppy in places, giving it a tactile quality, like you could reach out and touch the bumps and ridges. And those black outlines! They're not perfect, not mechanical, but wobbly and uneven, adding to the overall sense of playfulness and spontaneity. Take the red orb at the top, for instance. See how the color bleeds slightly outside the black line? It's a little messy, a little imperfect, but that's what makes it so charming. Calder’s energy reminds me of Joan Miró, both so good at making sophisticated ideas feel simple. Both make work which embraces the wonkiness and imperfections that make art feel human.