Calder, Alexander (1898–1976). Sculptor, painter, and printmaker
He also designed jewelry, toys, book illustrations, tapestries and textiles, and decor for dance performances and other theatrical events. A leading American sculptor, he combined high-spirited lyricism and ingenious engineering to delight connoisseurs and public alike. Among the best-known works of American modern art, his lighthearted yet sophisticated mobiles and stabiles distill his experimentation with organic forms and inorganic materials, with physical and expressive balance, and with incorporation of space as a dynamic and essential component of sculptural experience. The mobiles broke new ground in introducing movement as an aesthetic element in serious art. Calder’s inventive and inveterate tinkering (he was said to carry pliers in his pocket at all times), his straightforward interest in the mechanics of art, his lack of theoretical pretension, and his good-natured humor seem quintessentially American. On the other hand, his artistic roots are to be found in Paris, where he internalized the constructivist and surrealist precedents that fostered his personal development. The first American modern artist to create a major body of work in a completely unprecedented style, Calder enjoyed an international reputation achieved by few American artists.... ...
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