Snow-Plough 1963

Here we have Alexander Calder's 'Snow-Plough,' a print that just sings with primary colors and bold shapes, like a child's building blocks gone abstract. It’s a really pared down vision, you know? Like he’s asking, what's the absolute minimum you need to suggest a snow-plough? Look at that big blue wedge, that’s our plough, right? It’s powerful, but also kind of playful, thanks to the way he's outlined it in black. It gives it this cartoony, graphic feel, almost like it’s about to move. Calder doesn't fuss too much with blending or shading, it’s all about clear definition. I love the way those flat areas of color butt up against each other – the yellow, green and red. Each a separate piece of the puzzle. I am reminded of Joan Miro who also had a knack for turning simple forms into a whole visual language. These artists remind us that art doesn't always have to be complicated to be meaningful.