Ghosts 1964

"Ghosts" was made in 1964 by Alexander Calder using ink on paper. Calder is best known for his invention of the mobile, and we might see his interest in dynamic forms even in this static image. Calder had a long and successful career, with major exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world. This piece, however, makes us think about the social position of the artist. Calder came from a family of established artists; his father and grandfather were both well-known sculptors. This gave him a certain status within the art world. This status allowed him the freedom to experiment and to challenge conventional ideas about what art should be, even late in his career. Calder's "Ghosts" can be understood as a commentary on the institutions of art, and how they shape the production and reception of art. To fully understand a work like this, we need to examine the social conditions that allowed it to be made, including research into the artist's biography and the art market of the time.