Peeper 1971

This playful painting by Alexander Calder is a great example of his graphic style, made with gouache and ink on paper. The simple lines and bold colors create a sense of immediacy, like a quick sketch. The paint is applied in flat, opaque layers, with the black ink outlining defining the shapes. I love the way he uses color to create a sense of depth, with the red nails popping against the yellow hand. Looking closely, you can see the paper peeking through in places, giving the painting a raw, unfinished quality. I think Calder has a very sophisticated sense of color. For me, this kind of work relates to artists like Joan Miró, who were similarly interested in exploring the relationship between line, color, and form. Like Calder, Miró's paintings invite us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. And that's what art is all about, isn't it?