Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933 (Whitney Museum of American Art)

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Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933 (Whitney Museum of American Art) Details

From Publishers Weekly Calder, who arrived in Paris in 1926 as an Ashcan School realist painter with a degree in engineering, came into his own there as a central figure of the Modern movement. He became known in avant-garde circles for his wire figures and portraits (many represented here), toys and jewelry. Between 1926 and 1931, he built the 70 figures that compose Calder's Circus, which he displayed through 1961. A visit to Piet Mondrian's studio in 1930 provided a shock that started the abstract explorations that led to the mobiles for which he is best known. Simon and Leal, curators respectively at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Pompidou Center, collect eight essays in this catalogue for an exhibition opening in October at the Whitney; the writings examine Calder as illustrator, surrealist and abstractionist. His Circus is examined in depth by Eleonora Nagy, its conservator, and Henry Petroski, who looking at Calder's engineering background likens the Circus in performance to the workings of an internal combustion engine. Both art professionals and the artist's many fans will find much to appreciate here. 235 color and 87 b&w illus. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Read more Review "Smartly designed."—Steven Heller, New York Times Book Review (Steven Heller New York Times Book Review 2008-10-26)"A chunky, charming catalog."—New York Times (New York Times 2008-10-17)"[This book] explores Calder's transformation into the artist we know today. The numerous essays reveal the many facets of his work, including commentary on 'Calder's Circus' and other wire sculpture 'portraits.'"—Claire Patterson, American Style (Claire Patterson American Style 2008-12-01)"A comprehensive overview of Calder's formative years. Handsomely produced, lavishly illustrated and full of updated scholarship, this will surely serve as one of the definitive texts on the artist for some time to come."—Art Times (Art Times 2008-09-01)"Provides excellent reproductions [and] fine essays. . . . Highly recommended."—Choice (Choice 2009-03-01) Read more About the Author Joan Simon is curator at large for the Whitney Museum of American Art. She is the author of William Wegman: Funney/Strange (Yale), among many other publications on contemporary artists. Brigitte Léal is curator of historic collections at the Musée national d’art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and the author of many books on modern art. Read more