Yin & Yang on Yellow 1967

This watercolor painting, "Yin & Yang on Yellow" was made by Alexander Calder in 1967. There is something so joyous about the way that Calder uses color and form in this work, and it feels like an invitation to play. Look at that yellow ground, thinly washed with a big brush, then those confident black lines and red and blue shapes floating on top. It’s a balancing act, right? Like those amazing mobiles he’s known for. Calder isn’t trying to hide his process here. The paint is thin, almost translucent in places, and you can see the brushstrokes building up the forms. The black lines have a life of their own, and their edges are rough and uneven and sometimes spidery. This playful experimentation reminds me of Joan Miró. Both artists embraced spontaneity and chance in their work, allowing the materials to guide them. Ultimately, the relationship between form and ground, the balance between chaos and order, is what makes this piece so engaging. It’s a reminder that art can be both serious and playful, and that meaning can be found in the most unexpected places.