Artist: Alexander Calder
Title: Black Lightning
Medium: Gouache and ink on BFK Rives Paper
Size: 19.675" × 25.25"
Year: 1964
Signature: Signed and dated lower right "Calder 64"
Edition: Original
Archives: Registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York, under application number A06793
Provenance: Unbroken chain of provenance available by request
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
"Black Lightning" (1964) is a distinguished gouache and ink painting by Alexander Calder, executed on BFK Rives paper. Measuring 19.675 × 25.25 inches (49.8 × 65.4 cm), this unique work showcases Calder's mastery in blending dynamic form with expressive abstraction. The piece is signed and dated by the artist in the lower right corner: "Calder 64". It is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York, under application number A06793. Purchase includes a gallery Certificate of Authenticity, and an unbroken record of provenance is available by request.
The year 1964 marked a defining peak in Calder's career, when he achieved broad international validation with his landmark retrospective, Alexander Calder: A Retrospective Exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. The exhibition, which later traveled to major museums, represented a mid-career triumph that confirmed Calder's place as one of the leading figures of modern art. "Black Lightning", created in that same pivotal year, is directly tied to this moment of recognition, embodying the dynamic spirit that solidified his global reputation.
Calder's paintings of the 1960s were central to his creative practice. They provided a space where he freely explored the relationships of line, color, and balance that defined his artistic vision. In "Black Lightning", the composition reveals a vibrant sense of movement and harmony, demonstrating how his works on paper functioned as finished, autonomous expressions rather than supporting studies. Unlike his monumental projects, these paintings offer an immediate and intimate encounter with the artist's hand, capturing the energy and spontaneity that fueled his practice.
Calder's works from this period are represented in esteemed collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. They have been celebrated in major exhibitions such as Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which examined his transformation of European avant-garde principles into a distinctly American vision.
A work from 1964 captures Alexander Calder at his most accomplished. "Black Lightning" belongs to the year that canonized his legacy, linking it forever to a moment of international triumph and the flourishing of one of modern art's most essential creative minds.
About Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder (1898–1976) was a revolutionary American artist best known for his invention of the mobile and his groundbreaking contributions to modern sculpture. Born in Lawnton, Pennsylvania, Calder was immersed in a family of artists and engineers, which influenced his inventive approach to art. He studied mechanical engineering before turning to fine art, combining his understanding of mechanics with a bold artistic vision.
Calder is celebrated for creating kinetic sculptures, known as mobiles, which introduced movement as an essential element of sculpture. In addition to mobiles, he produced stabiles—stationary abstract sculptures—paintings, drawings, prints, and unique works on paper. His work is recognized for its playful forms, dynamic compositions, and striking use of color, reflecting both precision and whimsy.
Throughout his career, Calder's works have been exhibited in leading institutions worldwide. Notable retrospectives include Alexander Calder: A Retrospective Exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). His sculptures and works on paper are held in prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Calder's influence extends beyond sculpture to the fields of printmaking, design, and public art, making him a pivotal figure in 20th-century modernism. His innovative approach to form, color, and movement continues to inspire contemporary artists and captivate audiences around the world.
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