Balanced Spiral 1969

Alexander Calder made this gouache painting sometime in the late 60s, probably quickly, in one sitting. Look at that juicy black paint, the shapes placed with precision. I can imagine him, brush in hand, deciding the relationship between these flat forms, the way they hold each other up, like a family. The black spiral is so present, so central. The white line inside is almost like a thought bubble, or a path for the eye to travel. He’s well-known for his mobiles, and you can see how that interest in balance and movement translates to his two-dimensional work. For me, painting is all about building, taking away, and rearranging until something clicks. I wonder if Calder felt a similar kind of satisfaction when he laid down the last brushstroke. It’s like he's saying that art-making is a conversation, a dialogue, a dance. And he’s inviting us to join in.