Visitors to “AlexanderCalder: The ParisYears, 1926–1933,” atNew York’s WhitneyMuseum of American Art fromOctober 16 through February 15,2009, will discover how the popularartist became a world-class sculptorduring the period when he establishedhis studio in the Montparnassequarter of the French capital. There,Calder’s animal drawings evolvedinto his legendary miniature circusfashioned from such untraditionalmaterials as yarn, cork and pipecleaners. Using wirecoat hangers and pliers,he also made remarkableportraits of, amongothers, the entertainerJimmy Durante and theSpanish artist Joan Miró,as well as full-length figures,including severalversions of chanteuseJosephineBaker, who was wowingFrench audiences at the time.By 1931 Calder had executeda series of linear abstractionsthat led to his mobilesculptures—limber, inventive,minimalist shapesthat hang from theceiling. Fittingly, the exhibition,with its range of Paris-eraworks, can be seen in March at theCentre Pompidou.

"French Translation" originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's October 2008 Table of Contents.