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Nenuphar

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  • Alexander Calder, Nenuphar, 1968, sheet steel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1968.62.1

Gallery Label
Nenuphar was built at Calder's workshop in France for the 1968 opening of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is one of the artist's stabiles, or fixed sculptures, and the lyrical shapes cut from sheet steel convey the same gentle, graceful movement as his mobiles. Six silhouettes evoke the dark reflections of the water lily's flowering stalk and curling leaves. In fact, Calder conjured the entire intricate world of a windswept pond, varying the tendrils to suggest the shadowy presence of birds and fish among the lilies.

Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006

Title
Nenuphar
Artist
Alexander Calder
Date
1968
On View
  1. Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. 3rd Floor
  3. East Wing
Dimensions
103 1/4 x 106 1/2 x 119 1/8 in. (262.4 x 270.5 x 302.5 cm.)
Copyright
Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the artist

Mediums
steel
Mediums Description
sheet steel
Classifications
Sculpture
Keywords
  • Abstract
Object Number
1968.62.1
Palette
Linked Open Data URI

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