Born into a family of artists, Alexander Calder (1898-1976) trained as a mechanical engineer before discovering his calling in art, bringing a unique understanding of balance and tectonic movement to his creative practice.
Credited for pioneering the mobile-delicately balanced forms that move three-dimensionally with the slightest breeze-transforming static gallery spaces into dynamic environments where art physically moves. Calder's lithographs demonstrate his masterful adaptation of sculptural concepts to the printmaking medium, where bold geometric forms and organic shapes interact across the picture plane with characteristic playfulness. Working closely with master printers, Calder created compositions that balance spontaneous gesture with deliberate planning. His prints often feature the same characteristics found in his mobiles-abstract biomorphic forms, primary colors, and asymmetrical arrangements that suggest movement even in static media. These works showcase Calder's use of color relationships and spatial tensions as an imaginary world of bold organic forms. The accessibility of printmaking allowed Calder to share his distinctive visual language of lyrical motifs with larger audiences.