M.S. Rau is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private. . .
Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn MoreMer de sable by Alexander Calder
- This vibrant gouache and ink on paper is the work of esteemed modern master, Alexander Calder
- The artist’s rare painted works illustrate his unique understanding of space
- Painted in 1975, this gouache showcases Calder's playful exuberance and colorful dynamism
- Strategically ambiguous, Calder’s colorful work inspires multiple interpretations
- Get complete item description here
$295,000
Item No.
31-7793
To speak to one of our experts, call 1-888-711-8084
Description
Alexander Calder
1898 – 1976 | American
Mer de sable
(Sea of sand)
Gouache and ink on paper
Signed and dated with artist’s monogram “CA and ‘75” (lower right)
This vibrant gouache and ink on paper is the work of esteemed modern master, Alexander Calder. Celebrated for his innovations across multiple mediums, Calder demonstrated his unique understanding of space not only in his revolutionary sculptural mobiles, but also in paint. The artist’s. . .
1898 – 1976 | American
Mer de sable
(Sea of sand)
Gouache and ink on paper
Signed and dated with artist’s monogram “CA and ‘75” (lower right)
This vibrant gouache and ink on paper is the work of esteemed modern master, Alexander Calder. Celebrated for his innovations across multiple mediums, Calder demonstrated his unique understanding of space not only in his revolutionary sculptural mobiles, but also in paint. The artist’s. . .
Read more
Alexander Calder
1898 – 1976 | American
Mer de sable
(Sea of sand)
Gouache and ink on paper
Signed and dated with artist’s monogram “CA and ‘75” (lower right)
This vibrant gouache and ink on paper is the work of esteemed modern master, Alexander Calder. Celebrated for his innovations across multiple mediums, Calder demonstrated his unique understanding of space not only in his revolutionary sculptural mobiles, but also in paint. The artist’s rare painted works offer an intriguing glimpse into his genius in color theory and preoccupation with geometric space, illustrating his interrogation of spatial planes in a two-dimensional application.
Painted in 1975, this gouache and ink embodies the playful exuberance and colorful dynamism of Calder’s oeuvre. Toying with flatness and perspective, this composition can be enjoyed as a complete abstraction that investigates the interplay of color and shape. The work’s title, Mer de sable or Sea of sand, however, lends a unique interpretation to the work. Perhaps Calder’s nondescript collection of pyramids and circles is meant to conjure the images of the vast sand-swept deserts of Egypt punctuated by the great Pyramids of Giza, or some other arid locale dotted with ruins of the ancient past. Strategically ambiguous, Calder’s signature style inspires his audience to investigate multiple interpretations.
Today, Calder’s remarkable works can be found in public and private collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Important public commissions by the artist can also be seen in cities throughout the world, and his remarkable oeuvre has been the subject of hundreds of museum exhibitions. Similar paintings by Calder can be found in important museum collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim in New York.
This work is registered in the archives of The Calder Foundation, New York, under application no. A1166.
Dated 1975
Paper: 22 7/8” high by 30 1/2” wide
Frame: 30 7/8” high by 38 3/8” wide by 3/4” deep
Exhibited:
Roslyn Harbor, New York, The Manes Art & Education Center, Nassau County Museum of Art, Selections from the Collection of Dr. Harvey Manes, January 19 - May 12, 2019, no. 1.2019.4.
Roslyn Harbor, New York, The Manes Art & Education Center, Nassau County Museum of Art, Medium as Muse, Watercolor, Oil, Collage, January 18 - September 6, 2020, no. 6.2020.1.
Provenance:
Galerie Maeght, Paris
Ann Kendall Richards Inc., New York
Private Collection, Connecticut, Circa 1975
Sale: Bonhams, New York, May 12, 2016 Private Collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
1898 – 1976 | American
Mer de sable
(Sea of sand)
Gouache and ink on paper
Signed and dated with artist’s monogram “CA and ‘75” (lower right)
This vibrant gouache and ink on paper is the work of esteemed modern master, Alexander Calder. Celebrated for his innovations across multiple mediums, Calder demonstrated his unique understanding of space not only in his revolutionary sculptural mobiles, but also in paint. The artist’s rare painted works offer an intriguing glimpse into his genius in color theory and preoccupation with geometric space, illustrating his interrogation of spatial planes in a two-dimensional application.
Painted in 1975, this gouache and ink embodies the playful exuberance and colorful dynamism of Calder’s oeuvre. Toying with flatness and perspective, this composition can be enjoyed as a complete abstraction that investigates the interplay of color and shape. The work’s title, Mer de sable or Sea of sand, however, lends a unique interpretation to the work. Perhaps Calder’s nondescript collection of pyramids and circles is meant to conjure the images of the vast sand-swept deserts of Egypt punctuated by the great Pyramids of Giza, or some other arid locale dotted with ruins of the ancient past. Strategically ambiguous, Calder’s signature style inspires his audience to investigate multiple interpretations.
Today, Calder’s remarkable works can be found in public and private collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Important public commissions by the artist can also be seen in cities throughout the world, and his remarkable oeuvre has been the subject of hundreds of museum exhibitions. Similar paintings by Calder can be found in important museum collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim in New York.
This work is registered in the archives of The Calder Foundation, New York, under application no. A1166.
Dated 1975
Paper: 22 7/8” high by 30 1/2” wide
Frame: 30 7/8” high by 38 3/8” wide by 3/4” deep
Exhibited:
Roslyn Harbor, New York, The Manes Art & Education Center, Nassau County Museum of Art, Selections from the Collection of Dr. Harvey Manes, January 19 - May 12, 2019, no. 1.2019.4.
Roslyn Harbor, New York, The Manes Art & Education Center, Nassau County Museum of Art, Medium as Muse, Watercolor, Oil, Collage, January 18 - September 6, 2020, no. 6.2020.1.
Provenance:
Galerie Maeght, Paris
Ann Kendall Richards Inc., New York
Private Collection, Connecticut, Circa 1975
Sale: Bonhams, New York, May 12, 2016
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Read less
Specifications
| Period: | 1919-Present |
| Origin: | America |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Modernism |
| Depth: | 0.88 in. (2.22 cm) |
| Width: | 38.38 in. (97.47 cm) |
| Height: | 31.0 in. (78.74 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 30.500 in. (77.47 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 22.875 in. (58.1 cm) |
Discover More
Dynamic Artistry: Unveiling Alexander Calder's Kinetic Sculptures, Jewelry and Fine Art
Introduction to Alexander Calder's Art: American sculptor and artist Alexander Calder was perhaps one of the most unique and singular modern artists of his generation, and he holds the distinction of introducing a...
Read more
Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
