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What type of sculpture did Alexander Calder invent?
1 Answer
Alexander Calder invented the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. The revered American sculptor's mobiles were an innovative feat and initially used motors for movement, which he later abandoned for air currents alone. Calder was also a pioneer of wire sculptures. (He was a celebrated modernist printmaker, too, and while jewelry was a secondary métier for him, interest in his wearable art has accelerated in recent years.)
For Calder, the fascinating moment of artistic alchemy comes sometime between his representational canvases of the late 1920s and 1931, the year of his first show of abstract sculpture. Moving to Paris helped spur his creativity, as it did for so many artists and writers. The moment Calder arrived, he began working on one of his most seminal pieces, Cirque Calder (1931), his delightful distillation of the circus into what are essentially three-dimensional line drawings made with wire.
Shop authentic Alexander Calder prints, sculptures and other art from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
For Calder, the fascinating moment of artistic alchemy comes sometime between his representational canvases of the late 1920s and 1931, the year of his first show of abstract sculpture. Moving to Paris helped spur his creativity, as it did for so many artists and writers. The moment Calder arrived, he began working on one of his most seminal pieces, Cirque Calder (1931), his delightful distillation of the circus into what are essentially three-dimensional line drawings made with wire.
Shop authentic Alexander Calder prints, sculptures and other art from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024
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Shop for Alexander Calder Art on 1stDibs
Woman with Square Umbrella
By Alexander Calder
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A sculpture in wood depicting a woman holding an umbrella. "Woman with Square Umbrella" by Post War artist Alexander Calder is signed underneath, "Calder." "Woman with a Square Umbre...
Category
1920s Post-War Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Alexander Calder lithograph derrière le miroir (1960s Calder prints)
By Alexander Calder
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Alexander Calder Lithograph c. 1967 from Derrière le miroir:
Lithograph in colors; 15 x 11 inches.
Very good overall vintage condition; well-preseved.
Unsigned from an edition of u...
Category
1960s Pop Art Abstract Prints
Materials
Lithograph, Offset
Untitled Double Page Illustration for DLM
By Alexander Calder
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled Double Page Illustration for DLM
Color lithograph, 1968
Unsigned as issued in DLM
Published in Derriere le Miroir (Behind the Mirror), calle...
Category
1960s American Modern Abstract Prints
Materials
Lithograph
1960's Alexander Calder lithographic cover Derrière le miroir
By Alexander Calder
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Alexander Calder Lithographic cover c. 1968 from Derrière le miroir:
Lithograph in colors; 11 x 15 inches.
Very good overall vintage condition.
Unsigned from an edition of unknown with crisp bright colors.
Published by: Galerie Maeght, Paris, c. 1968.
Unsigned from an edition of unknown.
Looks fantastic framed.
Derrière le miroir:
In October 1945 the French art dealer Aimé Maeght opens his art gallery at 13 Rue de Téhéran in Paris. His beginning coincides with the end of Second World War and the return of a number of exiled artists back to France.
The publication was created in October 1946 (n°1) and published without interruption until 1982 (n°253). Its original articles and illustrations (mainly original color lithographs by the gallery artists) who were famous at the time.
The lithographic publication covered only the artists exhibited by Maeght gallery either through personal or group exhibitions. Among them were, Pierre Alechinsky, Francis Bacon, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Eduardo Chillida, Alberto Giacometti, Vassily Kandinsky, Ellsworth Kelly, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Saul Steinberg and Antoni Tapies.
Related Categories:
Mid century modern. Alexander Calder prints. Calder orange. Calder red...
Category
1960s Contemporary Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Beastie, Braniff Flying Colors suite, Alexander Calder
By Alexander Calder
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
ALEXANDER CALDER (1898-1976) Credited with the invention of the mobile, Alexander Calder revolutionized twentieth-century art with his innovative use of subtle air currents to animat...
Category
1970s Modern Animal Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Boomerang
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Boomerang, 1974
Lithograph in colors on Arches paper
Published by Transworld Art, New York, printed by Mourlot, Paris
29.5 x 43.3 inches
Signed in the plate, edition of 750 copies
...
Category
1970s Prints and Multiples
Materials
Lithograph
