Osaka 1974

Osaka by Alexander Calder is made of primary colors. There are radiating bands of yellow, and in the center, a kind of hypnotic target in red, white, and blue, all set off by thick black lines. I imagine Calder must have been thinking of Op art artists like Bridget Riley when he made this, or maybe just exploring how bold, simple shapes can play tricks on the eye. I can almost see the painting moving, shimmering with energy. Look how the yellow rays seem to push outward, almost like the sun's corona during an eclipse. And that spiral in the middle – it's like a vortex, pulling you into the painting's core. Painters are always looking at each other, talking to each other, across time and space. Calder's playful spirit is still alive and kicking. You can feel the echoes of his energy in the work of countless artists today.