Blue Sphere and Others 1971

This gouache on paper by Alexander Calder is all about play, colour, and motion. I like to think of Calder here with his paper laid out, pots of juicy colour open, ready to go, the brush in his hand dancing around the page. I love these simple shapes, so direct! It’s interesting that Calder, who famously made sculptures in motion, also made paintings that suggest movement and temporality. The colours are bold and bright and the black line feels both structural and improvisational. I love the orange dot in the top centre, it seems to float, held in place only by that grey horizon line. There's something so satisfying about how he brings together the different forms. Thinking about the conversations that painters have across generations and movements, I see echoes of Joan Miro in this work, but also pre-figurings of artists like Elizabeth Murray. Ultimately, this painting is about an openness to spontaneity and improvisation. Calder’s vision is really optimistic and reminds us of painting’s capacity to play.