“Constellation: The Morning Star,” created by the eminent artist Joan Miró in 1940, is a compelling work of art rendered in gouache on paper. It belongs to the Surrealist movement and is part of Miró’s celebrated “Constellations” series. The artwork measures 38 by 46 centimeters and is currently held in a private collection. Although categorized as figurative, it displays the characteristic whimsy and abstract tendencies of Miró’s style.
The artwork exhibits a vibrant composition marked by floating celestial motifs and organic forms that appear interconnected through a delicate network of lines. A soft gradient background anchors the graphic elements, engendered with both transparency and depth, creating a sense of an expansive cosmic landscape. Vivid hues of blue, red, and orange punctuate the expanse, while black forms and lines provide a striking contrast. The inclusion of eye-like shapes, stars, and cellular forms is reminiscent of elements from the natural world, yet their arrangement transcends literal interpretation, instead invoking a dreamlike tableau that invites the viewer’s imagination to roam freely. Miró’s interpretation of the morning star as a constellation reveals his talent in transforming observation and mythical symbolism into a visual lexicon uniquely his own.
