Untitled [plate LXXI] 1958

This vibrant print by Joan Miró presents a striking array of symbols. We see a face reduced to its barest essence: two round eyes, one blue and concentric, the other a solid yellow, paired with a stark, horizontal mouth. But observe the vertical strokes above! They evoke the archaic 'axis mundi,' the world axis, an ancient symbol seen in cultures from the Mayans to the Norse. It represents a connection between the earthly and the celestial, the very spine of existence. Consider how similar motifs appear in ancient shamanic art, linking our world to unseen realms. Over time, this imagery has transformed, surfacing in unexpected places, from religious icons to abstract emblems of the subconscious. These forms touch something primal within us, a collective memory whispering of humanity's eternal quest for meaning. In Miró's hands, the cyclical progression of symbols is clear, resurfacing and evolving as the image reverberates across art history.