Spiral

Spiral is a unique tapestry by Alexander Calder, woven by the Cauquil-Prince workshop in Paris. The work demonstrates a highly distilled approach, where a small number of elements are used to establish balance, tension, and movement across the surface.

At the center is a black spiral, acting as a dense visual anchor. Rather than functioning as ornament, it pulls the surrounding elements into relation with it, giving the composition its structure. Around it, four distinct forms are positioned with precision: a red boomerang-like shape in the upper left, a blue disc in the lower right, a calligraphic squiggle at the lower left, and an angular hourglass form in the upper right, marked by a cluster of small black spots.

The composition relies on restraint. Large areas of the off-white ground are left untouched, allowing each element to stand clearly on its own while remaining part of a unified whole. This use of space creates a quiet tension, where the distance between forms becomes as important as the forms themselves.

Color is reduced to a focused palette of red, blue, and black. Each tone is used deliberately, establishing contrast without excess. The result is a composition that feels balanced and controlled, yet still retains a sense of movement.

Woven in wool, the tapestry preserves the immediacy of Calder’s forms while softening their edges slightly, giving them a more tactile presence. Spiral stands as a rare and refined example of his work in textile—where clarity, spacing, and proportion are used to full effect.