“The Big Ear” is a sculpture created by the renowned artist Alexander Calder in 1943. This artwork is part of the Expressionism and Surrealism art movements and is categorized as a stabile, which is a type of stationary abstract sculpture Calder is known for. Unlike his mobiles, which move with air currents, stabiles are fixed and do not move.
The artwork displayed in the image is a bold, abstract form made of sheet metal and painted black. It consists of interlocking shapes that create a dynamic visual rhythm. The sculpture has a prominent central curve that divides it into two main sections, suggesting the form of an ear in a highly stylized and exaggerated manner, hence the title of the piece. It emanates a sense of balance and tension through the interaction of its sweeping curved elements with the straight, pointed shapes. The stabile is composed of flat, geometric panels that are assembled into a three-dimensional form, playing with negative space and the interplay of light and shadow. Alexander Calder’s work is celebrated for its innovative contribution to sculpture, especially in his exploration of abstract forms and the concept of artwork as an object integrated with the space around it.
