Two Black Branches 1972

Alexander Calder made Two Black Branches with gouache, that lovely opaque watercolour, sometime in his life, though the date is unclear. The colours are basic: bold blacks, reds, yellows, and blues that pop against the pale ground, a kind of playful geometry. It’s like Calder took his mobiles and flattened them, keeping that sense of balance and movement. Looking closely, the black branches aren’t just shapes, they're built up with brushstrokes, each one a decision, a little wobble in the hand that makes it feel alive. The paint isn't trying to hide itself. It's right there on the surface, thick in some spots, thinner in others, showing you how it was made. The circles, in their various sizes and colours, add a sense of depth and energy, almost vibrating against the black. Calder's work has this lightness, a refusal to take itself too seriously. You can see hints of Miró in the playful biomorphism, but Calder’s got his own thing going on. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about perfection, but about the joy of making.