Untitled (Study for Mobile) 1932

Alexander Calder made this untitled study for a mobile using pencil and gouache on paper. The dominant gesture is a sweeping, curvilinear form in red, balanced by a black sphere. I imagine Calder in his studio, playing with form, balance, and motion. The surface of the gouache seems almost chalky, a contrast to the sleekness often associated with his mobiles. Looking at that looping, red form, I wonder if he was thinking about weight and counterweight, the push and pull of forces. What a great painter! This reminds me of Joan Miró’s playful abstractions. Both artists share a similar vocabulary, with simple shapes floating in space. These artists are always in conversation, a beautiful exchange of ideas across time! The ambiguity here invites multiple interpretations, embracing uncertainty.