© 2023 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Two Crosses by Alexander Calder is a striking work on paper, blending transparent watercolor and gouache, showcasing his signature repertoire of shapes and symbols. At its heart lies a large, black 'X' on a fluid, grayish wash, and nearby, a smaller, opaque black cross overlapping a semi-opaque red ball, and to its left, a roundish transparent wash patch hosts a black crescent shape. Several spheres in black provide accompaniment, and the artist's favored primary colors, and at the lower margin, his charming undulating line. Calder's sparing use of watercolor allows the paper's white to showcase the forms and symbols, creating a dynamic, impactful artwork where simplicity and the interplay of transparent and opaque elements captivate the viewer.