Yellow Dentifrice 1944

Alexander Calder made this gouache on paper called Yellow Dentifrice with bold lines and a wacky color palette, and he's not afraid to lay it on thick, you know? The blue background is brushed on, almost like watercolor, but those black lines are so decisive. Look at the spirals for eyes, and the curves on the ears and breasts – each one is slightly different, like he’s improvising as he goes along, embracing the imperfections of the hand. The yellow teeth remind me of an open mouth – a bit goofy, but also kind of menacing. The red of the body is like a stage curtain, setting up the performance. Calder had this way of making the ridiculous sublime. You see echoes of Miro in his playfulness, but Calder’s got this American directness that’s all his own. He reminds us that art doesn't need to be serious to be profound. Sometimes, the silliest things can hold the most truth.