Untitled [plate LIX] 1958

This color lithograph by Joan Miró uses flat shapes to create a dreamlike image. With printmaking, the process is everything. You're not just pushing paint around; you're thinking in reverse, building up layers, and embracing the unexpected. Look at the texture of the red circle at the top. It is not solid and perfect. You can almost see the grain of the stone Miró used to create the print, and the way the color sits on the page. The flatness of the shapes reminds me a bit of Matisse’s cut-outs, but with a more playful, surreal twist. That little green line connecting the yellow shape to the blue reminds me of a plant, with the yellow a flower and the blue a strange horizon. Miró is in conversation with so many other artists, but he speaks with his own unique and poetic voice. Ultimately, this piece invites us to let go of our need for concrete answers and embrace the joy of looking.