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1910s
1910s

Joan Miró's artistic journey in the 1910s laid the groundwork for his later explorations and contributions to modern art. During this formative period, Miró attended art schools in Barcelona, notably the Escola de Belles Arts de la Lotja and the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc, where he was influenced by various artistic movements, including Fauvism and Cubism​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. These early years were characterized by experimentation with landscapes, portraits, and nudes, through which Miró sought to express the rhythmic interplay of volumes and areas of color, often inspired by the natural landscapes of Catalonia and the avant-garde movements flourishing in Paris​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. Miró's early work was marked by a search for a metaphorical means of expression. He aspired to depict nature in a way that combined childlike perception with adult intelligence, aiming for a transcendent, poetic representation that resonated with the aims of the Surrealists and Dadaists. This pursuit led him to experiment with symbols and forms that would later become hallmarks of his style​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. In 1918, Miró had his first solo exhibition at Galeries Dalmau in Barcelona, which, despite being met with ridicule, was a crucial step in his career​ (Wikipedia)​. By 1919, Miró began splitting his time between Spain and Paris, immersing himself in the burgeoning art scene of the French capital. His Parisian sojourns exposed him to the works and ideas of contemporaneous artists, further shaping his artistic evolution​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​. Miró's work from this era reveals an artist deeply engaged with the visual and intellectual challenges of his time, laying the groundwork for his later achievements in surrealism and abstract art. His commitment to exploring the boundaries of art, combined with a deep connection to his Catalan roots, set the stage for a career that would continually defy artistic conventions.