Object Details
Artist
Alexander Calder, born Lawnton, PA 1898-died New York City 1976
Luce Center Label
Alexander Calder became fascinated with the circus when a job with The Police Gazette in New York required him to draw cartoons of local athletic events. He went on to study the movements of acrobats, trapeze artists, knife throwers, belly dancers and a vast array of animals. He began his legendary "Circus" piece in Paris, and expanded it over the years until it filled five suitcases and a two-hour show. The Acrobats was inspired by these early studies and represents a brief period when Calder worked in plaster, creating mobile objects that would be cast in bronze.
Luce Object Quote
"It wasn't the daringness of the performers, nor the tricks or gimmicks; it was the fantastic balance in motion that the performers exhibited.' Alexander Calder, quoted posthumously in National Gallery of Art brochure, 1998
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alexander Calder
Date
1944
Object number
1971.358A-B
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Medium
plaster
Dimensions
sight 11 3/4 x 10 3/8 x 7 5/8 in. (30.0 x 26.2 x 19.3 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 49B
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Figure group\male\nude
Performing arts\circus\acrobat
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1971.358A-B