Vertical Constellation with Bomb by Alexander Calder


	Alexander Calder, Vertical Constellation with Bomb, 1943, painted steel wire, painted wood, and wood, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls 1996.120.8

Calder said that his Constellations series "had for me a specific relationship to the Universes I had done in the early 1930s. They had a suggestion of some kind of cosmic nuclear gases—which I won’t try to explain. I was interested in the extremely delicate, open composition."

Vertical Constellation with Bomb is one of the more complex works in the series, combining forms of varying sizes that define broader three-dimensional space than other Constellations. On the periphery, smaller forms reach out, suggesting movement into further horizons. There are five bare wooden forms and five painted forms, four of which are black. The wires are painted red.