Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
The Architecture of Whimsy.
Alexander Calder liberated sculpture from the pedestal, making it dance. But his works on paper reveal a different kind of freedom—a freedom from the laws of physics.
In this 1971 gouache, Calder steps away from his strict kinetic abstraction. Instead of floating discs, we see ground: architectural forms, a tiny animal figure, a hint of a story. It is as if the great modernist allowed himself a moment of pure, uncalculated play.
Why it matters: A perfect entry point into Blue Chip collecting. The provenance is ironclad: formerly with the legendary Knoedler Gallery and registered in the Calder Foundation archives (Application No. A18790). You are buying not just a drawing, but verified history.
Details:
Gouache and ink on paper.
75 x 110 cm (29 ½ x 43 ¼ in).
Signed and dated lower right: Calder 71.
Market Context:
Auction: Rago/Wright, Lambertville.
Date: 12 Nov 2025.
Estimate: $15,000