The Red Spider by Calder

Paris holds a special place in the heart of Alexander Calder’s brilliant career, a love story in which the Araignée Rouge, which has presided over the Esplanade de la Défense since 1976, plays an important role. Famous for his kinetic sculptures dubbed ‘mobiles’, the American artist created this still piece for his series of ‘stabiles’. That’s why this enormous sculpture, one of Calder’s best-known works, also goes by the name of ‘Le Grand Stabile Rouge’. Impossible to overlook, this stylised bright red spider is massive – measuring 15m high and 25m long – yet, at the same time, airy.