Moulin à Vent 1969

Alexander Calder made this gouache painting on paper, "Moulin à Vent," and signed it in '69, groovy! The colors are so direct, like a kid went to town with a set of primaries. You know, looking at it, I think about gesture, like Calder was jiving, improvising as he went. Those stripes radiating out, they’re not perfect, and that’s the charm. It’s like a windmill turning, or maybe his famous mobiles spinning and casting shadows. The texture isn't trying to hide itself. The paint is flat, and you can see the little imperfections where the brush dragged. It's a dance between control and accident, especially in that big black spiral. Does it remind you of a shell, a galaxy, or just pure energy? That's Calder, always playful, always inviting you to make your own connections. Thinking about this reminds me of Joan Miró, another artist who made simple colours and shapes into something profound. Art is just one big conversation, right?