Nénufar 1974

Alexander Calder made this painting, Nénufar, in 1974. It’s full of colorful circles floating on a gray background. I can imagine Calder in his studio, mixing those vibrant hues, the brush dancing across the surface. Those bold black outlines make the circles pop, don't they? Red, yellow, blue, orange, white, black – it’s a playful, primary party! The paint looks smooth, almost like gouache, laid down in confident strokes. I wonder if he started with the circles or the gray wash, whether he’d build it up slowly. Each circle feels like a note in a visual melody. I'm reminded of Joan Miró or even Matisse's cut-outs, this feels like a similar sense of joy and freedom in simplicity. Artists are always in conversation with each other, you know? I think it's cool how Calder has taken painting to such a playful place, embracing the unexpected, allowing us to find our own rhythm within the composition.