Throughout the time in which I am working on a canvas I can feel how I am beginning to love it, with that love which is born of slow comprehension.
Joan MiroRead
Little by little, I've reached the stage of using only a small number of forms and colors. It's not the first time that painting has been done with a very narrow range of colors. The frescoes of the tenth century are painted like this. For me, they are magnificent things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Miro reflects on the beauty of simplicity in art, suggesting that fewer colors can create powerful expressions.
In this quote, Joan Miro emphasizes the concept that using a limited palette of forms and colors can lead to profound artistic expression. He notes that historical examples, such as the frescoes of the tenth century, demonstrate that brilliance can emerge from simplicity, showcasing his reverence for minimalist approaches in art. Miro champions the idea that magnificence can be found in restraint, allowing the essence of the work to shine through without the distraction of complexity.
Themes
ArtSimplicityColorMinimalismExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of simplicity in design.
More from Joan Miro
All quotes →More important than a work of art itself is what it will sow. Art can die, a painting can disappear. What counts is the seed.
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When I stand before a canvas, I never know what I'll do, and I am the first one surprised at what comes out.
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The painting rises from the brushstrokes as a poem rises from the words. The meaning comes later.
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I feel the need of attaining the maximum of intensity with the minimum of means. It is this which has led me to give my painting a character of even greater bareness.
Joan MiroRead
A simple line painted with the brush can lead to freedom and happiness.
Joan MiroRead
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