Lion and Tamer 1973

Here we see Alexander Calder’s ‘Lion and Tamer,’ a vibrant gouache on paper. The composition is immediately striking with its bold, primary colors and simplified forms. The yellow lion, adorned with a red mask-like face and blue ears, dominates the space. The lion's presence exudes a playful yet unsettling quality. Calder’s use of line is crucial here. The stark black outlines define each figure, flattening the image and emphasizing its constructed nature. This recalls the modernist interest in disrupting traditional perspective. The reduction of figures to basic shapes challenges fixed meanings of power and control. The tamer, rendered in smaller scale and kneeling, seems less in command and more like a caricature. The bright, unmodulated colors further flatten the scene, denying any illusion of depth. It’s a space where traditional hierarchies are subverted through visual means. Calder invites us to question the very nature of representation. Is this a playful circus act or a deeper comment on power dynamics?