The Hope of a Condemned Man facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Hope of a Condemned Man |
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| Catalan: L'esperança del condemnat a mort | |
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| Artist | Joan Miró |
| Year | 1974 |
| Type | triptych oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 267 cm × 351 cm (105 in × 138 in) |
| Location | Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona |
The Hope of a Condemned Man is a set of three paintings made by the famous artist Joan Miró in 1974. These artworks are now kept at the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona, Spain. They are an important part of the museum's collection.
Contents
History of the Paintings
Why Miró Painted This Series
In the 1970s, Spain was under the rule of a leader named Francisco Franco. During this time, some legal decisions were made that upset many people, including Miró. He painted these three artworks to show his hope for a young man named Salvador Puig Antich. This young man was an anarchist, which means he believed in a society without government. Sadly, he lost his life at that time.
Miró's paintings were a way for him to express his feelings about this event. He was hoping for a different outcome for the young man.
How the Paintings Were Made
Miró worked on these paintings for two years. He made many drawings to plan his ideas. These drawings are also kept at the Miró Foundation.
He started painting these artworks in February 1974. He finished them about a month later. It was a sad coincidence that he finished the paintings on the very day the young man, Salvador Puig Antich, lost his life. Miró said he didn't know it at the time.
Miró explained that the paintings show a black line on a white background. He felt this line was like a "cut" because someone had power and no kindness. He also mentioned that the line is "interrupted," just like the young man's life was.
He hoped these three paintings would stay in Barcelona at the Foundation.
What the Paintings Show
Looking at the Art
These three paintings are a triptych, meaning they are a set of three artworks meant to be seen together. Each painting shows a patch of color. A flowing black line moves across the canvas. This line changes and has splashes of paint.
The line tries to create a shape, but it never quite finishes. It suddenly stops. This stopping line represents the tragic end of the young man's life.
Miró's Style in These Works
Miró created these works in 1974. The black line in the paintings looks fast and strong. It seems to come from the ground and reach towards the future. Miró believed that every line he drew held a secret meaning. His art always involved filling space with symbols that gave his work meaning.
In his later years, Miró used simpler ways to express himself. These paintings have strong, clear lines. He drew them quickly, almost in one breath. He didn't stop using his usual shapes, but he made them much simpler.
Miró also started using more empty space in his paintings. This made the empty areas just as important as the painted parts. He wanted to create a strong feeling or idea using very few things. This is why he used larger canvases. Even though the paintings seem still, they create a feeling of movement.
Influences on Miró's Art
American Art and World Events
Miró painted these large artworks after visiting the United States. He was inspired by American art styles like action painting and abstract expressionism. Artists like Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and Mark Rothko influenced him. Even though Miró's shapes were not completely abstract, they were inspired by nature.
After the World War and its terrible events, many artists felt disappointed. They saw how science, which was supposed to bring progress, had led to things like the atomic bomb. Art began to be seen more as something to buy than something to enjoy. Because of this, many artists started trying new ways to express themselves.
Artists like Pollock, Franz Kline, and de Kooning used energetic and bold painting styles. Rothko created art that was not about real objects, but more about feelings. His paintings were like a quiet thought for the viewer.
Japanese Art and Miró's Message
Miró was also very interested in Japanese art. He admired the simple works of a master named SengaiGibon. Sengai's art combined simple shapes with written text. This had a big impact on Miró. He started creating his own set of symbols.
Miró's paintings with their few elements and strong colors create a powerful feeling for the viewer. He wanted to show a dramatic impact with very little.
When Miró painted The Hope of a Condemned Man, Europe was still dealing with the effects of the 1960s. Spain was also nearing the end of Franco's rule. At the same time, Joan Miró was a very well-known artist. He was finding new and creative ways to make art. He had also visited Japan, which influenced him greatly.
Miró was known as an "international Catalan" artist. He was a political artist who used his art to speak out. He believed artists had a special duty to speak for those who couldn't and to help people gain freedom. He felt his art should promote ideas and serve humanity.
Images for kids
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The three paintings that make up The Hope of a Condemned Man
See also
In Spanish: La esperanza del condenado a muerte para niños
