Topography 1961

Alexander Calder made this gouache on paper, Topography, back in '61. Imagine him there, in his studio, maybe a little cramped, surrounded by his mobiles and stabiles. What I love about this piece is how Calder takes these flat shapes and lines, these simple colors, and creates a whole world. It’s like he's mapping out a place that exists only in his mind. The yellow feels like sunlight, while the black lines curve and swoop like roads or rivers. And that little touch of blue? Maybe it’s a sliver of sky peeking through. It’s funny to think of Calder, known for his playful sculptures, making something so…graphic. But then again, he was always playing with space and movement, whether in three dimensions or two. This piece feels like a blueprint for one of his sculptures, a way of working out the angles and rhythms before bringing it to life. He’s in conversation with artists like Joan Miro and Fernand Leger. Painting opens a space for multiple interpretations.