Posies 1972

Alexander Calder made this gouache, called "Posies", in 1972. The way he fearlessly lays down these shapes and colors feels so intuitive, like he’s just letting the painting happen. It’s a great reminder that artmaking is as much about the process as the outcome. Look at how the black outlines define those vibrant red and blue petals, giving them this bold, graphic punch. It’s almost like a coloring book, but with the energy of a spontaneous gesture. The paint isn’t fussy or overworked; it’s just laid down with a kind of joyful confidence. See how the black ‘leaves’ reach up like flames? They create this playful rhythm across the surface, pushing and pulling against the white background. Calder's known for his mobiles, and you can see how that same sense of playful balance and movement translates into his paintings, too. There is something of Matisse's cut-outs here, that same feeling of simple joy. "Posies" reminds us that art can be both bold and lighthearted, and that sometimes the simplest gestures can be the most powerful.