L’Ecuyére 1976

Alexander Calder made ‘L’Ecuyère’ in 1976, and I love its bold, playful spirit. Just look at that confident, almost cartoonish use of line and color! The whole composition feels like it’s been set in motion by Calder’s hand, each element carefully balanced. The red, white, and blue palette is simple but striking. The way the red is dabbed on for the woman’s dress and then smoothly laid down for the oval creates a dynamic contrast. And the drippy blue and black lines above, they're not just decoration—they're pure energy, vibrating like a circus tent. Check out that bold, red oval. It's just sitting there smack-dab in the middle of the composition. It’s like a stage, isn’t it? It makes me think of Joan Miró, how he made forms that are both abstract and somehow familiar, inviting us to dream up our own stories. Calder makes me want to grab my paints and start playing.