The Crab, Abstract steel sculpture at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, United States
The Crab is a large-scale steel sculpture standing about 3 meters high and 6 meters long, painted in bold red. The work occupies the outdoor sculpture garden at the museum and features the geometric, abstractly angled lines that define the artist's style.
The work was created in 1962 by Alexander Calder, an artist who brought movement and balance to abstract forms. The sculpture emerged during a period when large public artworks were becoming central to American cities.
The sculpture demonstrates Calder's interest in geometric forms and industrial materials that shaped his view of abstraction. The red-painted steel and angular design reflect a movement that transformed everyday industrial elements into monumental artworks.
The sculpture sits in the museum's outdoor sculpture garden and is accessible to visitors exploring the grounds. Since it stands outdoors, it is best viewed in good weather and offers different perspectives from various angles around it.
The shape of the sculpture resembles a crab with extended claws, even though it is entirely made from straight steel beams. This connection between the abstract form and the recognizable figure makes the work both engaging and accessible to visitors.
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