Le Cheval Caillou 1968

Curator: Alexander Calder created this ink drawing, "Le Cheval Caillou," in 1968. What do you make of it? Editor: It's striking, bordering on unsettling. The figures are so raw, like unearthed fragments of the psyche, rendered in this frenetic, almost agitated, style. Curator: Expressionism, wouldn’t you agree? Calder, best known for his mobiles, here delves into a kind of primal figuration, playing with caricature. Editor: The figures! Some human, some animalistic… that figure with the equine head. What do you see in these symbolic forms? Curator: The horse, for centuries a symbol of power and virility, here feels… distorted, doesn't it? The overall effect points towards the anxieties and disorientations of the late '60s. This wasn't exactly a harmonious moment in modern history. Editor: So, is the distortion meant to signal a collapse of the cultural symbols? Or maybe a re-imagining of cultural norms? It is unclear. Curator: I see both. There’s a definite sense of breakdown. The yellow background might represent decay or maybe the yellowing of time's affect on memory. Editor: It is an intriguing proposal. Perhaps it suggests some other meaning rooted in more intimate historical sources. The yellow field gives a feel of vitality, almost ecstatic—which could contradict any notions of the loss. What else do you feel is communicated here? Curator: It does seem like a jumble. Calder captures raw human feelings through distorted figures. Look at the expressions – shock, panic, and uncertainty fill the air. But there is no clear sign if any particular reading of the artwork could ever feel settled. Editor: Exactly. "Le Cheval Caillou," it seems to me, captures that late-60s angst. Curator: Agreed. Calder pushes representation into unsettling yet undeniably resonant territory. Editor: A powerful glimpse into the cultural psyche, even decades later.