Untitled [plate XLI] 1958

Joan Miró's untitled print presents a fascinating array of symbols rendered in a playful, dreamlike style. Note the crescent shape, a primal symbol often associated with the moon and femininity, recurring across cultures from ancient Babylonian art to its use as a symbol for the Virgin Mary. Consider how these shapes, seemingly simple, echo forms found in Paleolithic cave paintings. Could Miró be tapping into a collective unconscious? Like a modern shaman, he channels the energy of ancient symbols. The circle and the crescent appear in countless forms: in a Byzantine Madonna, the moon is beneath her feet, and in Miró's work, these symbols are stripped bare. These primal forms resonate deeply, engaging us on a subconscious level as we confront our shared human heritage. Ultimately, Miró's visual language emphasizes the cyclical nature of symbols, reflecting how motifs resurface across history, continually evolving in meaning.