Artist Focus | Joan Miro

The Spanish artist Joan Miro (1893 – 1983) was known not only for his paintings but also for his assemblages. His paintings typically revolved around biomorphic/organic forms and could be categorized under Surrealist works in his early years beginning in the mid 1920s such as Harlequin’s Carnival (1924). His assemblages were about liberating the constraints of tradition and were created starting in the 1930s.

A prime example of his assemblage is his piece Poetic Object (1936) in which he incorporates objects such as a ball on a string, a map, a dead parrot, a hanging dog leg, and a top hat. While some would find these components to be random, they are – and thus attribute to the mysterious dimension that can be seen throughout all of his works.

Looking back, whether at his paintings or assemblages, you recognize different elements that may add up to something or not. This could be a reflection of the artist’s own imagination and entail personal significance to the artist, or it could be random. It is up to the viewer to become involved mentally to further explore that which is before you.

Click here to see all limited edition prints by Joan Miro listed on Printed Editions.