Striped Tree, Red Sun 1972

Alexander Calder made this gouache painting, Striped Tree, Red Sun, in 1972. Calder, born into a family of artists, developed his unique visual language amidst the social and political shifts of the 20th century. Here, a stark black and white form, reminiscent of a tree or perhaps a stylized explosion, is juxtaposed against a solid red sun. In the historical context of the early 1970s, after the Civil Rights Movement and during the Vietnam War, this piece resonates with a complex interplay of peace and turbulence. The image is bold and simple, yet it invites an emotional response. The sun, a universal symbol of warmth and life, looms large, almost threatening. The tree, or whatever the black form is, appears contained, as if struggling against an unseen constraint. Calder's graphic style avoids traditional representations. Instead, it creates a fresh narrative. The painting mirrors the societal tensions of its time while referencing the emotional dimensions of nature.