Le profil qui disparait
Dimensions: 140 x 185 cm (55 x 73 in)
Date: 1975
Material: Handwoven wool tapestry by Atelier Pinton Frères in Felletin, France
Condition: Perfect
Serial: Edition /6
Provenance: Private French Collection
Detailed information
Alexander Calder “Le profil qui disparait” Tapestry
Le Profil qui Disparaît (Moon and Star) is a tapestry by Alexander Calder, woven in 1975 at the Atelier Pinton in Aubusson. The work exemplifies Calder’s ability to translate the immediacy of his visual language—developed through mobiles, drawings, and gouaches—into the medium of tapestry without losing its clarity or sense of movement.
The composition is structured around a dialogue between two dominant forms. On the left, a black crescent profile establishes a strong and grounded presence. Reduced to its essential contour, the form carries a quiet weight that anchors the composition. Opposite it, a red star radiates outward, outlined in yellow and blue, creating a counterbalance that feels more expansive and dynamic.
Color is applied with precision and restraint. The use of primary tones—red, yellow, blue, and black—maintains a direct visual language while reinforcing the structural relationships between elements. Each form remains clearly defined, yet interconnected through proportion and spatial arrangement.
The composition achieves a balance between stability and motion. The crescent provides a fixed point, while the star introduces a subtle rotational energy, guiding the viewer’s eye across the surface. This interplay reflects Calder’s broader exploration of equilibrium and movement, central to his practice across different media.
Woven in wool, the tapestry introduces a tactile dimension that slightly softens the edges of the forms, allowing for nuanced variations in texture while preserving the overall precision of the design.
Le Profil qui Disparaît stands as a concise and resolved example of Calder’s work in tapestry, demonstrating how his formal vocabulary can be fully realized within the woven medium while maintaining its original vitality.
Detailed information
Alexander Calder “Le profil qui disparait” Tapestry
Le Profil qui Disparaît (Moon and Star) is a tapestry by Alexander Calder, woven in 1975 at the Atelier Pinton in Aubusson. The work exemplifies Calder’s ability to translate the immediacy of his visual language—developed through mobiles, drawings, and gouaches—into the medium of tapestry without losing its clarity or sense of movement.
The composition is structured around a dialogue between two dominant forms. On the left, a black crescent profile establishes a strong and grounded presence. Reduced to its essential contour, the form carries a quiet weight that anchors the composition. Opposite it, a red star radiates outward, outlined in yellow and blue, creating a counterbalance that feels more expansive and dynamic.
Color is applied with precision and restraint. The use of primary tones—red, yellow, blue, and black—maintains a direct visual language while reinforcing the structural relationships between elements. Each form remains clearly defined, yet interconnected through proportion and spatial arrangement.
The composition achieves a balance between stability and motion. The crescent provides a fixed point, while the star introduces a subtle rotational energy, guiding the viewer’s eye across the surface. This interplay reflects Calder’s broader exploration of equilibrium and movement, central to his practice across different media.
Woven in wool, the tapestry introduces a tactile dimension that slightly softens the edges of the forms, allowing for nuanced variations in texture while preserving the overall precision of the design.
Le Profil qui Disparaît stands as a concise and resolved example of Calder’s work in tapestry, demonstrating how his formal vocabulary can be fully realized within the woven medium while maintaining its original vitality.
