Eclat 1974

Alexander Calder painted this vibrant gouache in 1974, using sunny yellows and reds. I imagine Calder having fun with this one, those radiating lines feel breezy and free, like he’s letting his hand lead the way. What was he thinking when he made it? He had been a sculptor most of his life, so I wonder if he wanted to translate the weightlessness of his hanging sculptures to painting? This image is light and airy, like a bright summer day. The surface is pretty flat, but the radiating lines and concentric circles give it a sense of depth, as if the sun is bursting forth with energy. The red lines hold the yellow, creating contrast and a dynamic push-and-pull that I relate to. I see how these colors talk to each other. Like the paintings of Joan Miró, this work celebrates the basic pleasures of form and color, reflecting a childlike wonder and joy. It makes me feel like I want to go make something myself!