Celebrated, acclaimed and revered in many circles Joan Miro is surely one of the most recognizable modern artists. Born in Barcelona just before the turn of the last century he was the son of a goldsmith and watch maker. Even as a child he was drawn to art and took drawing lessons while still in primary school. Unfortunately, as a young man he fell ill with typhoid, but it was during his recovery period that he decided he wanted to be a painter. His first solo exhibition took place in 1918, and not too long thereafter his work burst upon the art scene.
He met Picasso in 1920 when he went to Paris, where he held a solo exhibit in 1921. Ernest Hemingway bought one of his paintings. His artistic interests expanded to include lithographs, collages, etchings and engravings. Upon returning to Spain his pieces evidenced Surrealism. In the 1950s he focused on public works, most famously the ceramic Wall of the Moon and Wall of the Sun.
While many books are devoted to Miro “Joan Miro The Ladder of Escape” is a standout as it sheds light on Miro’s work which reflects the unsettled times in which he lived as well as his politically engaged art. He was every bit as committed to his beliefs as Picasso. “From the rural, anarchist, and Catalan themes of early paintings such as Head of a Catalan peasant to The Hope of a Condemned Man triptych by which he publicly declared his opposition to Franco, Miro’s commitment to freedom of expression underpinned his art throughout his career.”
Reflecting recent scholarship as well as essays by international authorities this richly illustrated volume is a major contribution to the archives surrounding one of our greatest artists.
- Gail Cooke
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