MACHINE MOTORISÉE 1933

Alexander Calder made this sculpture, Machine Motorisée, using painted wood, metal, and a motor. Here, Calder employs modest materials from industrial production, playfully contrasting them with fine art sculpture. The sculpture's base, a simple stack of painted wooden planks, elevates two distinct forms: one, sleek and black, stands firmly, while the other, bulbous and brown, balances precariously on a metal point. This juxtaposition of forms and colors creates a dynamic tension. The title suggests a mechanical element, hinting at movement and automation. Calder engages with the aesthetics of the machine age, but it is equally important to note the careful handcraft involved in carving and painting the wooden forms. Calder asks us to reconsider the value we place on different modes of making, inviting us to see the artistry in the everyday and challenging the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.