Image size: 8 1/4 x 10 3/4
Sheet size: 19 1/4 x 23 7/8
Framed size: 21 1/4 x 23

Joan Miró, (1893-1983) Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist and designer, was one of the creative giants of 20th Century art. Although his early work showed various influences, he was particularly inspired by the Surrealists and remained true to the surrealists principle of releasing the creative forces of the unconscious mind from the control of logic and reason throughout his life. Miró was very much against the established painting methods of the time, and is often credited with being the founder of automatic drawing, which is the process of allowing the hand to move randomly, leaving the artwork to chance. For Miró, automatic drawing was also a way to break free from conventional form. However, his work stood apart from the official art movements at the time, existing outside of the bounds of classification.

Although much of his work is delightfully playful, it can also be somber, as when he designed propaganda posters in support of the fight against Franco. Miró settled in Paris in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, but he returned to Spain in 1940 and lived there for the rest of his life. It was around this time that he began to achieve international recognition. In 1941, the Museum of Modern Art held a retrospective exhibition of Miró's work. As well as being represented in every important museum worldwide, he had numerous large public commissions and his works can be seen in public spaces in many major cities. Always interested in making his work more accessible, Miró was also productive as a print maker and explored new printmaking techniques into his later years.