One of the most innovative artists of the 20th century, and among the first to develop automatic drawing, Miró represented the beginning of Surrealism as an art movement. Spanning Surrealism, Expressionism, Fauvism and colour-field painting, Miró expressed his thoughts and ideas through his own pictorial sign language. A master of many art forms, this exhibition sees a wide selection of original prints, including lithographs, etchings, woodcuts and pochoirs. Featured works will be available to view on the website from 1st December and a digital catalogue can be made available upon request.

Miró was born in Barcelona in 1893, but from his mid-20s spent much of his time in Paris. His early work was influenced by various movements – Fauvism, Cubism and Dadaism – but he was particularly associated with the Surrealists. Miró stood apart from other members of the movement, innovating in the field of abstraction while using none of the superficial devices of the other Surrealists.

“The spectacle of the sky overwhelms me. I'm overwhelmed when I see, in an immense sky, the crescent of the moon, or the sun. There, in my pictures, tiny forms in huge empty spaces. Empty spaces, empty horizons, empty plains – everything which is bare has always greatly impressed me.” —Joan Miró, 1958, quoted in Twentieth-Century Artists on Art

Drawing on his universe of signs and symbols, he was able to create a world populated by strange configurations in vivid colours. He made many prints throughout his career and in 1954 he was given the Venice Biennale print making prize. The Foundation Joan Miró was opened in 1975 overlooking Barcelona. He died in 1983.