Discovering Miró’s Personal Library: MIRÓ-GAUDÍ

This exhibition is the first in the series of exhibitions “Discovering Miró’s Personal Library”, which seeks to make known the artist’s bibliographic collection. In the Library Pilar Juncosa, we keep about 500 books owned by Joan Miró, most of them were found in the Sert Studio. However, the bulk of the painter’s bibliographic collection is housed in the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona, where nearly 2.000 copies are preserved.

In this small exhibition, mainly presents the five books from the Miró’s Personal Library (MPL) related to Antoni Gaudí, who had a notable influence on Miró’s work. Likewise, we exhibit other books from our library on this subject, as well as a newspaper clipping, a magazine and sketches by Joan Miró.

Antonio Gaudí was an important reference in Joan Miró’s work. They met when they attended drawing classes at the Cercle de Sant Lluc. The forms of Gaudí’s architecture and specifically Parc Güell will be a source of direct inspiration in projects such as the UNESCO murals or the Labyrinth of the Fondation Maeght. The fragmentation of images and juxtaposition of colours, in the style of the trencadís or tile shard mosaics used by Gaudí, are clearly evident in Miró’s work, particularly in the geometries and kaleidoscopic colours covering monumental sculptures such as Dona i ocell or Miss Chicago, the Pla de l’Os mosaic at the Ramblas and in the tribute of the engravings of the Gaudí Series. An affinity for organic shapes, interest in collaborating with craftsmen, and constant desire to investigate and evolve are other common denominators shared by both creators.