MIRÓ, TAMAYO, AND JEANNERET 1949

Alexander Calder made "Miró, Tamayo, and Jeanneret" with oil on canvas, painting three portraits against a dark background. I can only imagine him, in the studio, wrestling with capturing these three figures! Look how the central face emerges with bold outlines and saturated yellows and reds, almost radiating energy. Then there's the face to the right, softer, more muted, peering through glasses. The face on the left seems doll-like, with a lighter palette. Calder layers the paint in such a way that each figure has its own distinct texture and presence. He builds up the surfaces, creating a relief effect. You can see his understanding of the modernist tradition, but then you can sense his deep, individual playful style, it's joyful! Artists are always in conversation, right? It makes me think about how much art relies on the past but pushes us toward something new. It’s less about knowing exactly what it is, and more about feeling all the possibilities.