Alexander Calder Research Paper

Alexander Calder Research Paper

Paper 4

In the course of this paper I will be analyzing Alexander Calder's work through the Psychoanalysis approach, specifically Psychobiography as I discuss the many influences throughout his life, both people and experiences, which informed his prolific body of work, in addition to it being a direct reflection of his personality. As a third–generation artist, Alexander Calder grew up surrounded by art. Calder's mother was a painter and his father and grandfather were sculptors, and as a small child his parents ensured that he always had space and tools for his own artistic experimentation. Alexander Milne Calder, his grandfather, created historically based, monumental sized works such as the statue of William Penn seen on the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...Piet Mondrian was the source of Calder's turning toward total abstraction. After a visit to his studio Calder was struck by the walls that were like huge versions of Mondrian's paintings. He wanted to use those same concepts of abstract colors but to also set them in motion. He was inspired by Henri Matisse's paintings of flat abstract figures and that direct influence can be seen in pieces such as "Hats Off." The process of Matisse's cut paper collages is also similar to Calder's cut sheets of metal. His friendship with Joan Miro is evidenced in his sculptures, through the often organic, brightly colored shapes that contrast with the sharp geometric architecture of the buildings surrounding them. Miro's influence is also seen in the subject matter that is used repeatedly; heavily abstracted and biomorphic animal forms, often showing up specifically in bird–like forms: "Flamingo," "Big Bird," and "Eagle," although Calder used other animalistic forms as well, including "Cheval Rouge," (Red Horse) and even "Le tamanoir" (The

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