BROOCH 1938

Here is a brooch by Alexander Calder, and the medium is metal and stone, which is just so Calder. I can see him there in his studio, bending and shaping wire into these looping forms. The brooch has a kind of sunny, radiant feeling—those curved metal lines feel like rays emanating outwards. Then there are the stones, like found objects, each one unique and raw, held in place by delicate wire cages. I imagine Calder choosing each stone for its particular color and texture, wanting to capture a sense of natural beauty. The whole piece feels like a miniature mobile, a frozen moment of potential movement. You see, it’s like he is capturing the essence of energy and playfulness. The more I look at it, the more I sense Calder's hand, his joy in the process, in bringing together disparate elements into a harmonious whole. It's like he's saying, "Look, the world is full of wonder, and all we have to do is see it, feel it, and play with it!"