Joan Miró was born in Barcelona in 1893. He began drawing as a young boy, and later attended a business school,  then the Art Academy of Barcelona, and at the Gali Academy (1912-15) and then at the Free Drawing Academy of Sant Lluch.

Miro was influenced by Fauvism (specifically Henri Matisse) and Cubism, which started in the early years of the 20th century, and at first painted still lifes. From 1915 to 1918 he painted nudes, then portraits, then landscapes. At this point, he began “geometricizing” the forms, and used colors independently of their local color (like the Fauves, who used bright colors not seen in nature). After some attempts at Cubism and a meticulous presentation of volume, he arrived at his direct language, which he developed throughout the rest of his life.

Miró can be considered one of the most important artists of his time. His graphic works occupied a central place in his oeuvre. The poetic vision, dramatism and cheerfulness of his paintings go hand in hand with his wide, open pictorial spaces.