Photographed as a young child in 1900 with his mother, Nanette Lederer Calder, Alexander Calder grew up in a family steeped in artistic tradition. His parents and grandparents were professional artists, surrounding him with materials, tools, and creative experimentation from an early age. Those influences helped shape the inventive spirit that later made him famous for his mobiles and kinetic sculptures.
Calder’s birthdate carries a small historical wrinkle. Philadelphia records list July 22, 1898, but his mother insisted he was born a month later, on August 22, and Calder accepted her version throughout his life. The dispute offers a glimpse into the personal history behind an artist whose work so often defied convention.
