Interlocking 1944

Alexander Calder created this vibrant gouache on paper work, "Interlocking". Calder, celebrated for his innovative mobiles and stabiles, also produced a significant body of two-dimensional work that explores similar themes of balance and movement. In this piece, shapes coalesce into a face-like figure, reflecting Calder's engagement with abstraction. Born into a family of artists, Calder had a keen understanding of form, line, and color. He challenges traditional representation by presenting us with a figure that’s both recognizable and abstract. What does it mean to see a face, and what does abstraction offer that realism might obscure? The cross on the figure's face prompts questions about cultural identity and the interplay between representation and symbolism. Ultimately, "Interlocking" is not just an assembly of shapes and colors but an invitation to meditate on the construction of identity.