Rayon 1972

Alexander Calder made this gouache on paper, Rayon, and it feels like a burst of pure energy. Look at how he's laid down those stripes, almost like he's wrestling with the paint, pushing it around to create this dynamic form. It's not about perfection, it's about the action of painting itself. There’s a real sense of immediacy in how the paint has been applied. You can see the texture of the paper coming through, and those bold strokes of black and white. See how they create this incredible rhythm that makes your eye jump around the surface. And that sun, with its simple yellow and red bands, it's almost childlike in its directness. It's like Calder's saying, "Here's the world, raw and full of life." This reminds me a little of Matisse's cut-outs, that same joy in simple shapes and colours. But Calder brings his own sense of playfulness. He invites us to see the world as a series of bold, joyful gestures.