
The Surreal Calder
Yale University Press
Published on 28. October 2005
Book
Hardback
156 pages
978-0-300-11436-2 (ISBN)
Description
This delightful book places the artist within the context of Surrealism so that his achievement is more profoundly understood.
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) is a key presence in the history of modern art, and yet he is rarely seen or remembered in the context from which he initially emerged as an artist. When Calder became "Calder" - well known for his signature mobiles and stabiles - it was due to a unique variety of presiding influences. His artistic parentage consisted of Marcel Duchamp, who provided the name of and concept for the mobile; Piet Mondrian, who introduced pure abstraction to him; and Joan Miro, who communicated the central theses of Surrealism. Although Calder went on to play a major role in Surrealist manifestations during the formative years of the movement, including being shown in the defining 1936 "Exposition surrealiste d'objets" in Paris, he has since been separated from those beginnings. Indeed, at this point in time, Calder is never included in exhibitions of Surrealist art, even though he was incubated by that phenomenon and contributed mightily to it.
This book will put the artist back in midst of Surrealism so that his achievement is more profoundly understood within that context. Works by artists such as Miro, Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, and Rene Magritte will delineate the Surrealist milieu and some of its chief aspects. The following theses are also explored: Calder's wit, caricature, and linear flights of fancy; his marvelous personages and fantastic creatures; biomorphic forms from an imaginary vision of nature; and his constellations, apparent views of celestial space.
Distributed for The Menil Collection
Exhibition Schedule:
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (March 3 - May 21, 2006)
The Menil Collection, Houston (September 30, 2005 - January 15, 2006)
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (June 11 - September 10, 2006)
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) is a key presence in the history of modern art, and yet he is rarely seen or remembered in the context from which he initially emerged as an artist. When Calder became "Calder" - well known for his signature mobiles and stabiles - it was due to a unique variety of presiding influences. His artistic parentage consisted of Marcel Duchamp, who provided the name of and concept for the mobile; Piet Mondrian, who introduced pure abstraction to him; and Joan Miro, who communicated the central theses of Surrealism. Although Calder went on to play a major role in Surrealist manifestations during the formative years of the movement, including being shown in the defining 1936 "Exposition surrealiste d'objets" in Paris, he has since been separated from those beginnings. Indeed, at this point in time, Calder is never included in exhibitions of Surrealist art, even though he was incubated by that phenomenon and contributed mightily to it.
This book will put the artist back in midst of Surrealism so that his achievement is more profoundly understood within that context. Works by artists such as Miro, Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, and Rene Magritte will delineate the Surrealist milieu and some of its chief aspects. The following theses are also explored: Calder's wit, caricature, and linear flights of fancy; his marvelous personages and fantastic creatures; biomorphic forms from an imaginary vision of nature; and his constellations, apparent views of celestial space.
Distributed for The Menil Collection
Exhibition Schedule:
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (March 3 - May 21, 2006)
The Menil Collection, Houston (September 30, 2005 - January 15, 2006)
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (June 11 - September 10, 2006)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
75 b-w + 45 color illus.
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 229 mm
Weight
1270 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-11436-2 (9780300114362)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Mark Rosenthal is adjunct curator at The Menil Collection and author of Joseph Beuys: Actions, Vitrines, Environments (Menil/Yale 2004). Francisco Calvo Serraller is a scholar from Madrid. Alexander S.C. Rower is Alexander Calder's grandson.