Onion With a Red Dot 1972

Alexander Calder made this playful gouache painting, Onion With a Red Dot, in 1972. It's all about process, isn't it? Just laying down those simple shapes and lines, seeing where they take you. The colors are so direct and punchy, red, black, yellow and blue, straight out of the tube. The paint isn't trying to be anything it’s not. I love how the red dots seem to float around the onion-like form, some large, some small, creating a sense of depth and movement. The black lines are bold and confident, they almost vibrate with energy. Look at that little squiggle of yellow on the left – it's so simple, but it adds a touch of whimsy and lightness. Calder's work is all about embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in the everyday. Like Joan Miró, he knew how to turn simple forms into something magical and thought-provoking. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to be complicated to be meaningful.