The Escape Ladder 1940

Joan Miró made "The Escape Ladder" at an unknown date using gouache, pastel, and ink on cardboard, and it’s now over at MoMA. What strikes me is the way Miró lets the materials do their thing; it’s like he’s having a conversation with the paint, the ink, and the surface itself. There’s this tension between the flatness of the shapes and the depth suggested by the mottled background, achieved with washes of color and spattering. It’s a bit like looking into a cosmic soup, right? And those little creatures, or whatever they are, seem to float in this ambiguous space. My eye is drawn to the black and red shapes that make up the so-called “escape ladder.” They're so graphic and bold against the softer, atmospheric ground. It's as if he’s playing with different languages of painting all at once. Miró’s work reminds me a bit of Paul Klee, in the sense of creating playful, enigmatic worlds, though Miró’s palette feels earthier and more elemental. Ultimately, this piece resists any single interpretation. It’s more about inviting you into a space of imagination and possibility.