Alexander Calder (1898–1976) is a key presence in the history of modern art and yet he is rarely seen or remembered in the artistic context from which he initially emerged. This book places the artist squarely in the midst of surrealism so that his achievement is more profoundly understood within that context. Elements of surrealism—such as biomorphism, abstraction, tactility, provocation and mystery—were brought together to design The Surreal Calder’s cover. The front and back show Calder’s Spider and Eucalyptus, respectively—stark, black biomorphic shapes against an unadorned white ground. The embossed leatherette cover, without jacket, is a tactile evocation of the handmade special-edition artists’ book covers of the period. At once visually stimulating and thought provoking, the cover of the publication enhances the exploration of the many ways in which Calder was incubated by the surrealist phenomenon and how he contributed significantly to it.

Iconic. This cover is a most elegant way of saying “Calder.”