Feuilles mortes 1972

Alexander Calder made "Feuilles mortes" in 1972 with gouache. Imagine him there with his brush and pot of paint, conjuring these whimsical shapes on the page. The surface is alive with simple, bold shapes that look like leaves and abstract forms dancing across the page. The thin black lines create a sense of movement and connection, like vines intertwining. Calder's playful approach to form and color reminds me of Miró's paintings, both artists create these universes full of whimsical shapes and forms. I wonder what he was thinking when he painted this—maybe just letting his hand move freely and letting the colors sing. You can see it as a kind of visual poetry; each gesture is like a word or phrase contributing to the overall rhythm and melody of the painting. It really highlights how painting is a conversation between artists across time, with each one inspiring the next. It invites you to look, feel, and imagine, which is what art should do.