Joan Miró's Constellations series, created between 1940 and 1941, represents a pinnacle of his artistic exploration, showcasing 23 pieces that art historians and curators universally acclaim as one of his greatest achievements. This period was notably tumultuous for Miró, both personally and globally, as it coincided with the outbreak of World War II and the artist's subsequent displacement from France to Spain (Wikipedia) (Joan Miro Analysis).
Miró's move to Varengeville on the Normandy coast in 1939, just before the onset of the second world war, marked the beginning of this prolific phase. The village blackout, meant to conceal the location from enemy bombers, ironically ignited Miró's inspiration for the Constellations. He described how the prohibition on looking out at the night sky led him to "paint the windows blue" and start the series, capturing the essence of the stars and cosmos on paper (Joan Miro Analysis). The Constellations burst with vibrant expressions of Miró's inner universe, utilizing a recognizable system of symbols and codes amidst backgrounds ranging from midnight blues to dawn's rosy hues, filled with whimsical abstract forms that evoke a cosmic symphony (Artnet News).
The initial ten pieces were completed in France, reflecting Miró's response to the serene yet charged environment of Varengeville. However, as the Nazis advanced in May 1940, Miró and his family fled to Spain, carrying with him the beginnings of the Constellations. Despite the chaotic journey, which included brief considerations of fleeing to the USA, Miró continued the series in Palma de Mallorca after a three-and-a-half-month hiatus, deeply influenced by the solitude and natural beauty he found there (Wikipedia).
Upon completion, Miró sought to exhibit the series abroad, given the impossibility of showcasing them in war-torn Europe. The works were eventually displayed in New York in 1945, following their shipment to the United States in 1944. The exhibition was a sensation, introducing post-war America to a profound message from Europe's artistic front and influencing the trajectory of Abstract Expressionism in the U.S., notably impacting artists like Jackson Pollock (Artnet News) (Sothebys.com).
Miró's Constellations are notable not just for their aesthetic beauty and technical mastery but for the circumstances of their creation. They symbolize an artist's defiance against the backdrop of global turmoil, a testament to the human spirit's resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. The series' journey from a small, blacked-out village in France to the galleries of New York encapsulates a significant period of artistic and historical transition, underlining Miró's pivotal role in the modern art movement.