Blue Elephant with Red Ears 1971

"Blue Elephant with Red Ears" is a 1971 sculpture by American artist Alexander Calder (1898-1976). Calder is best known for his mobiles, but he also created numerous stabiles, which are freestanding sculptures. This particular piece is a whimsical depiction of an elephant, rendered in the artist's signature style of bright, bold colors and simplified forms. The sculpture is made of metal, and the elephant's body is blue, while its ears are red. The abstract style of Calder's work is a hallmark of his contribution to the artistic movement known as modernism, a departure from the strict rules of traditional art that emerged in the early 20th century.