The artwork titled “MEDUSA” was created by artist Alexander Calder in 1930. It is a sculpture that aligns with the Expressionist movement. The sculpture is a representation of Medusa, a character from Greek mythology known for her hair of snakes and her ability to turn those who gazed upon her to stone. Calder’s rendition is minimalist, made with what appears to be wire, shaped and formed into an openwork head in profile with wavy lines evocative of snake-like hair. The simplicity of the lines captures the essence of the subject with a certain fluidity and motion, indicative of Calder’s well-known interest in movement within his works. The piece hangs from a single point, suggesting it could rotate or sway, which gives it a dynamic quality despite its static nature. This embodies the essence of Calder’s later mobile sculptures, for which he became famous.
