CALDER, ALEXANDER
Autograph letter signed to "Dear Paul" [Calder's friend, Ambassador Paul Nitze], undated, 2 pp., stamped on verso "14 Rue de la Colonie, Paris," with a large drawing at the head of the letter in Calder's hand in ink and watercolor of a foot lettered "DONT TREAD ON ME," signed "Sandy." 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches (26 x 21 cm); approximately 20 lines in sepia ink. Usual folds, slight age-toning, overall in attractive condition, framed with both sides visible.
Nitze, better known as one of the architects of US Cold War policies, was also a significant collector and patron of the arts and a close friend of Calder, who he met in 1929 in Berlin at an exhibition of Calder's work. The Rue de la Colonie address was the location of Calder's Paris studio from 1931, and was where much of his early work with wire sculpture and mobiles was developed. Calder's letter begins "I think your dancing Academy a swell idea and hope that Medusa [Louise Calder, his wife] & I may be allowed to remain "original members" altho' too distant to come to the opening "contest". May I offer my sister in law Miss Mary James as a great enthusiast of the dance." He then provides her address, and that of another friend that may be interested. The letter ends "By the way--would you mind sending me a list of the wood sculptures you have of mine. I thought I ought to make a list." The "Dancing Academy" reference is to an annual dinner dance held for Paul Nitze's birthday. Calder letters with drawings and watercolors are distinctly uncommon.