Radiating Rhythm 1971

Alexander Calder made this gouache work, Radiating Rhythm, in 1971. The marks are loose, almost joyful, aren't they? You can see Calder’s hand, the speed of the brush across the paper, that immediate and playful approach to artmaking as a process. There's a real tension in the surface, especially with that bold red ground meeting the crisp white. The thick, opaque colors, like that sunny yellow and electric blue, push forward, while the black lines dance around, creating this incredible sense of movement. Look at how the lines forming the 'radiating' section actually wobble and vary in thickness - each one a unique gesture, yet unified. It’s like the whole thing is vibrating with energy. You might see echoes of Miro, in the shapes and colors, but Calder’s background as a sculptor really shines through. It makes you think about how art is this ongoing conversation, across mediums and time, always shifting and evolving.