Plumbings II by Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder
1898-1976 | American

Plumbings II

Signed and dated "Calder 73" (lower right)
Ink and gouache on paper

Alexander Calder, a pioneering 20th-century artist, transformed the visual landscape through his revolutionary approach to sculpture and abstract art. This work Plumbings II exemplifies his extraordinary ability to reconstruct industrial materials into vibrant, kinetic compositions that challenged traditional artistic boundaries.

Rooted in his background as a mechanical engineer, Calder's artistic journey was dramatically reshaped after visiting Piet Mondrian's Paris studio in 1930. This encounter catalyzed his shift toward abstraction, leading to his groundbreaking invention of the mobile—sculptural works that redefined the art world's understanding of motion, volume and space. Plumbings II distills these innovative principles into a two-dimensional canvas, pulsing with the same dynamic energy that animates his three-dimensional sculptures.

In this rare painting, Calder transforms mundane industrial elements—pipes, clocks and signs—into a symphonic exploration of form and movement. The artwork's bold primary colors and fluid lines echo the playful inventiveness of his iconic kinetic sculptures while offering a more intimate perspective on his creative vision. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Calder saw the potential for artistic expression in the most ordinary objects, elevating industrial fragments into aesthetic poetry.

During the final years of his career, Calder primarily focused on monumental sculptures and mobiles. Plumbings II represents a precious momentary return to two-dimensional work, making it a particularly significant way to understand the breadth of his artistic imagination. This painting captures Calder's fundamental artistic philosophy: the ability to reveal extraordinary beauty within the seemingly mundane.

Calder's impact on modern art is immeasurable. His works have been featured in over 100 exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art alone and grace the collections of prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim and the Centre Pompidou. Monumental public commissions like Flamingo in Chicago's Federal Center Plaza and El Sol Rojo, created for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, further cement his legacy as one of the most innovative artists of the 20th century.

This work is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, NY.

Dated 1973

Paper: 29 3/4" high x 43 1/2" wide (75.57 x 110.49 cm)
Frame: 45" high x 58 3/4" wide x 2 1/8" deep (114.30 x 149.23 x 5.40 cm)

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Provenance:
Galerie Maeght, Paris
Private Collection, acquired from the above in 1977
M.S. Rau, New Orleans