Joan MIRÓ Biography, Artworks
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MIRÓ, Joan (Joan Miró i Ferrá) (1893-1983)
Born at Montroig, near Tarragona. Entered the School of Fine Arts, Barcelona, in 1907, and moved on to the Gali Academy in 1912. But soon he had had enough of official academic instruction and chose to work on independently. First exhibition of his work at the Dalmau Gallery, Barcelona, in 1919. Influenced by Van Gogh and Fauvism in his early landscapes and still lifes. First trip to Paris in 1919: there he met Picasso and came under the influence of Cubism. His first Paris exhibition was held in 1921 at the Galerie La Licorne (preface by Maurice Raynal). Painted chiefly still lifes at this time. Fell in with the Dadaists, then with the Surrealists. Greatly struck by Miró's work, André Masson brought it to the attention of André Breton and Max Ernst. Finished The Farm in 1922 after nine months' work. From 1924 dates Plowed Earth, his first really non-objective canvas. Exhibited at the Galerie Pierre, Paris, in 1925. That same year Miró and Ernst did sets and costumes for Diaghileff's Romeo and Juliet (Russian Ballet). His work was represented at the first surrealist exhibition at the Galerie Pierre, 1925 Discovered and admired the work of Paul Klee. From this period dates Harlequin Carnival. Trip to Holland in 1928, where he admired Vermeer and painted a series of Dutch Interiors. First American exhibition at the Curt Valentin Gallery, New York. Took part in an exhibition of collages at the Galerie Goemans, Paris, 1930 (preface by Aragon). Sets and costumes in 19311932 for Jeux d'Enfants (Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo). A special issue of Cahiers d'Art devoted to Miró in 1934. Executed a large mural painting for the Spanish Pavilion at the Paris World's Fair in 1937. After the German invasion of France in 1940 he returned to Barcelona with his family. The following year he settled for the duration at Palma, Majorca, where he painted, drew, did lithographs and decorated pottery fired by Artigas. After the war, in 1947, he traveled to the United States, where he executed a mural painting for the Terrace Plaza Hotel, Cincinnati. Returned to Europe in 1948 and settled down at Barcelona, making frequent trips to Paris. In 1950 he illustrated Tristan Tzara Parler seul with 75 color lithographs. Has exhibited at the Galerie Maeght, Paris, since 1953. Awarded first prize for engraving at the 1954 Venice Biennale. Exhibited at Brussels and Amsterdam in 1956. Produced two large ceramics, Wall of the Sun and Wall of the Moon, for the new Unesco building in Paris; these two works earned him the Guggenheim International Award for 1958.
Bibliography:
A. Breton, Le Surréalisme et la Peinture, Paris 1928; 2nd edition, New York 1945, -- David Gascoyne, A Short Survey of Surrealism, London 1935. -- A. H. Barr, Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism, Museum of Modern Art, New York 1936. -- J. Levy, Surrealism, New York 1936. -- J. Miró, Je rdve d'un grand atelier, in XXe Siècle, N° 2, Vol. I, May 1938. -- Miró, Sur le Carnaval d'arlequin, in Verve, N° 4, January-March 1939. -J. J. Sweeney, Joan Miró, Museum of Modern Art, New York 1941 (with an extensive bibliography). -J. Miró, Jeux poétiques, in Cahiers d'Art, Vol. 20-21, 1945- 1946. -- Michel Leiris, The Prints of Joan Miró,, Curt Valentin, New York 1947. -- Clement Greenberg, Joan Miró, Quadrangle Press, New York 1948. -- A. Cerici-Pellicer , Miró y la imaginación, Omega, Barcelona 1949. -- J. E. Cirlot, Joan Miró, Cobalto, Barcelona 1949. -- Raymond Queneau, Joan Miró, Paris-New York 1952. -- J. Prévert and J. Ribemont-Dessaignes, Joan Miró, Maeght, Paris 1956. -- S. Hunter, Joan Miró: His Graphic Work, London-Milan1959. -- W. Erben , Miró, Silvana, Milan 1959. -- J. T. Soby, Miró, Museum of Modern Art, New York 1959 (with bibliography and complete documentation). -- Guy Weelen, Miró, 2 vols., Hazan, Paris 1960.
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