The artwork “Woman with Blond Armpit Combing Her Hair by the Light of the Stars” was created by the esteemed artist Joan Miró in 1940. This piece is a notable example of the Surrealism movement, which sought to unleash the creative potential of the unconscious mind. The genre of the artwork is abstract, a style that Miró was greatly influential in developing. This particular piece is part of the “Constellations” series, which is celebrated for its dream-like, poetic quality and is one of the artist’s most acclaimed bodies of work.
The artwork is characterized by a fantastical assembly of shapes and symbols that seem to float against an earth-toned background, likened to a night sky scattered with stars. Central to the composition is an abstracted figure, which might suggest the presence of the titular woman referenced in the name of the piece. Around this figure, we see a series of interlocking forms and curvilinear lines, which create a dynamic sense of movement as if composing a visual symphony of celestial elements.
Vivid colors punctuate the neutral backdrop, with splashes of blue, red, yellow, and black attracting the viewer’s eye and guiding it through the work’s labyrinthine constellations. The stars are represented by simple circular forms, some linked by thin lines suggesting connections, similar to those found in a star chart. The crescent moon and a bright blue star figure prominently, anchoring the composition’s celestial theme, while abstract shapes and lines evoke a sense of music or poetic rhythm. The overall effect is one of otherworldly harmony and enigmatic beauty, inviting the viewer to unravel the intricate language that Miró has composed within this dreamscape.
