Untitled (Composition with X shapes)
Gouache on paper (Work on paper) • Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976)
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Modern / Abstract Expressionism / Surrealist-inflected Abstraction
Medium & Technique
Gouache and ink on paper; wet-on-wet technique creating bleed effects around the bold black forms, typical of the artist's fluid handling of the medium.
Creation Period
1964
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 22 inches (standard size for Calder gouaches); vertical portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A vibrant yellow background featuring a primary-colored red sun, a blue/green orb, and several fuzzy-edged black 'X' and vertical squiggly forms. The composition utilizes a kinetic, cosmic vocabulary similar to the artist's mobile sculptures.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the colors appear vibrant and saturated, though the paper shows slight undulation consistent with the wet application of gouache.
Estimated Market Value
$60,000 - $90,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$50,000 - $80,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired from a gallery specializing in Mid-Century Modernism; signature 'Calder 64' present in lower right corner.
Art Historical Significance
Gouaches were a central part of Calder's practice in the 1960s, allowing him to explore color and form in a two-dimensional space that informed his larger monumental sculptures and mobiles.
Notable Features
Features the distinct 'feathered' edges on the black ink where the pigment bled into the wet yellow wash, a signature technical hallmark of Calder's 1960s paper works.
Condition Issues
Possible minor light fading (typical for 1960s pigments) and paper rippling; reflection in glass suggests the piece is not using anti-reflective museum glass.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend re-framing with acid-free archival matting and UV-protective Museum Glass to prevent future solar damage and light-induced fading of the yellow and red pigments.