CLOWN WITH HOOP 1931

Alexander Calder made this drawing of a clown with a hoop using ink on paper. It looks like he conjured these figures up from one continuous line. Imagine his hand moving quickly across the page, capturing the energy of the circus. What was he thinking when he made it? Maybe he was inspired by the acrobats and animals he saw at the circus. Or perhaps he was just doodling and letting his imagination run wild. I love the way he captured the dynamism of the clown's performance with just a few simple lines. The clown is balanced on a sloped line, mid-leap, as a pair of delighted creatures look on. The line is thin, almost delicate, but it conveys so much movement and energy. Calder, of course, is best known for his mobiles, which also have a playful, whimsical quality. He was part of a whole gang of artists, like Miró and Klee, who were interested in the circus as a subject. I think that his work reminds us that art can be fun, and that it doesn't always have to be serious. It’s all part of an ongoing conversation.