Ladders Cross the Blue Sky in a Wheel of Fire 1953

Joan Miró made this painting, Ladders Cross the Blue Sky in a Wheel of Fire, with oil on canvas. The canvas is filled with playful shapes that seem to dance across the blue sky! The dominant colors are vibrant oranges, blues, and yellows, applied in fluid, gestural strokes. Looking at this painting, I imagine Miró in his studio, moving around the canvas, letting his intuition guide his brush. What was he thinking as he painted? The forms are floating, playful—the artist’s mind is clearly moving quickly! There's a large circular shape filled with concentric circles and radiating lines, almost like an eye—or the sun. A hand reaches out with fiery red fingertips! Miró's style reminds me a little of Paul Klee, but he really is in his own lane. You can see how Miró's playful experimentation inspired artists like Calder. And his surreal imagery continues to ignite the imaginations of painters today.