Moonlight in a Gust of Wind 1965 - 1966

Alexander Calder’s print presents us with a sun, a common motif across millennia and cultures. But observe its face, a mask-like visage of black and white stripes with spiral eyes, surrounded by colorful petals of red, yellow, and blue. The sun, an ancient symbol of life, energy, and renewal, has been worshipped and depicted since the dawn of civilization. This mask, reminiscent of ancient tribal masks, connects us to primal rituals. The spiral eyes, evocative of whirlpools, pull us into the subconscious, stirring ancient memories. This combination of the life-giving sun with a mask creates a potent image, engaging our emotions on a subconscious level. The sun's face, or mask, appears in myriad forms across time. Consider the Egyptian sun god Ra, or the Greek Helios, each embodying the sun's power with distinct attributes. Over time, these depictions evolved, influenced by cultural shifts and religious transitions. Like a recurring dream, the solar mask resurfaces, evolving yet retaining its primordial allure, forever engaging us in a dance between past and present.