Reversing Spiral 1971

Alexander Calder made this painting, Reversing Spiral, with paint on paper. You can see the movement in this piece so clearly - those big, bold spirals spinning and pulling your eyes around. It’s like Calder is saying, "Hey, let's play with perception!" Looking closely, you can see the physicality of the medium; the matte surface, the hand of the painter. The paint isn’t trying to hide, it has an active role. Notice the area where the spiral meets the yellow; the black is dense but not totally opaque. Calder’s work feels like a cousin to Joan Miró’s playful abstractions, both artists conjuring a sense of childlike wonder and experimentation. Ultimately, this painting, like much great art, reminds us that seeing isn't just about looking, it's about feeling and experiencing the world in new ways.