Untitled 1963

This untitled work was created in 1963 by Alexander Calder, and is composed of ink on paper. Calder, who revolutionized sculpture with his invention of the mobile, here translates his kinetic sensibility into two dimensions. The floating, biomorphic forms, rendered in vibrant oranges and blacks, seem to dance across the white space. Although Calder's family were already established within the art world, he initially trained as a mechanical engineer and it was during the Second World War when materials such as aluminum were scarce, that he turned to making more works on paper. Yet, this work also touches on gendered expectations. Calder developed an artistic vocabulary that, while abstract, evokes organic life. The composition feels spontaneous, as though capturing a fleeting moment. The dripped ink adds a sense of immediacy and vitality. This work invites us to consider the interplay between stillness and movement, form and formlessness, reflecting the dynamism inherent in life itself.