Black Leafed Flowers 1972

This is Alexander Calder’s Black Leafed Flowers, painted in 1972. The way Calder has applied these blocks of black, red, and blue is so playful and direct, there’s no messing about. It's like he’s having a conversation with himself as he decides where each colour should go, and how it will all balance out. I love how the paint is laid down, it's almost transparent in places, letting the white of the paper peek through and giving it a lightness. Look at that single drip of blue paint right below the flower on the right, it's like a little accident that Calder decided to leave in, a little wink to the viewer that says, "Hey, this is all just paint!" It reminds me of Matisse in a way, that same love of bold colors and simple shapes, but Calder brings his own sense of humor and movement to the mix, something he's done so well with his sculptures. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be serious or complicated, sometimes it can just be a simple expression of joy.