Constellation

1939–1945

The war years: “constellations” instead of aluminium

During the Second World War Calder tries to join the Marines as a camoufleur but is rejected. Adapting to a scarcity of aluminium, he returns to carved wood in a new open form of sculpture called “constellations”.

1943

The retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art

In 1943 the Museum of Modern Art hosts a Calder retrospective curated by James Johnson Sweeney and Marcel Duchamp; the show has to be extended because of the number of visitors. Russian Wikipedia calls it the artist’s first retrospective.

1946

The Louis Carré show and Sartre’s essay

In 1946 a Calder show organised by Duchamp, made up mainly of hanging and standing mobiles, opens at Galerie Louis Carré in Paris; because of the postal service’s strict size limits he takes some works apart and sends them by mail. The show makes a huge impact, as does the catalogue essay by Jean-Paul Sartre.

1948

A Rio de Janeiro show nearly sells out

By 1948 Calder’s works are selling: his solo show in Rio de Janeiro nearly sells out, and he becomes the first internationally renowned sculptor.

summer 1949

“Sculpture International” in Philadelphia

In the summer of 1949 Calder is one of 250 sculptors in the 3rd Sculpture International at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; his “International Mobile” is the centrepiece of the exhibition.

1952

The Grand Prize of the Venice Biennale

In 1952 Calder wins the Grand Prize of the Venice Biennale. His monumental stabiles soon become part of the architectural ensembles of many cities in Europe and America.