The artwork titled “Paseo a la ciudad” was created by artist Joan Miró in 1917. Belonging to the movements of Cubism and Fauvism, this cityscape captures the essence of the period’s artistic exploration, characterized by the use of bold colors and the fragmentation of form, with a tendency towards abstraction that both movements espouse. Miró’s work during this time often reflects a synthesis of these artistic styles, embodying the evolutionary nature of modern art in the early 20th century.
This particular artwork presents a distorted and semi-abstract representation of a city. The composition features buildings that appear to be rendered in simplified geometric shapes, which is characteristic of the Cubist approach to breaking down objects into basic forms. The color palette leans towards earthy tones, with hints of green and blue, possibly echoing the natural landscape surrounding the urban environment.
Miró’s use of color, while somewhat restrained, suggests the influence of Fauvism, with its emphasis on painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism. Lines appear to flow and merge organically, creating a rhythm throughout the composition that guides the viewer’s eye along pathways and the contours of the cityscape.
The manner in which space is depicted demonstrates a departure from traditional perspective, contributing to a flattened appearance and an emphasis on the surface of the canvas, hallmarks of Cubist experimentation. The overall effect is an impression of a city as seen through the dreamlike lens of memory or emotion, a precursor to Miró’s later shift towards Surrealism and a more pronounced dreamlike and symbolic vocabulary in his art.
