Alexander Calder (1898-1976)

Alexander ‘Sandy’ Calder dedicated this work to Emile Langui and his wife Stephy in 1964. Langui was a Belgian art historian, curator, and decorated resistance hero during World War II, celebrated for his efforts to retrieve looted art from the Nazis, most notably the Van Eyck brothers’ Ghent Altarpiece. He had an expansive network within the art world and wrote on a broad spectrum of artistic genres, from fifteenth century Flemish portraiture to modern sculpture. As curator of the 1958 World Exhibition of Brussels six years prior, Langui had exhibited Calder’s kinetic sculpture The Whirling Ear in front of the US Pavilion. Calder and Langui were kindred spirits: the first studio artist to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom, Calder was a non-ideological proponent of peace boasting a wide variety of artistic interests. An exceptional work from the collection of Emile and Stephy Langui, this playful composition of black ink and brightly coloured dots is a testament to their relationship.