Tate Introductions: Miro

The bright colours and graphic strength of paintings by Joan Miro have made him an immensely popular modern painter, but the artist would have been extremely disappointed to see his work treated as little more than interior decor. In this accessible survey of the artist's life and career, Iria Candela explains the complex roots and darker shades that lie behind the evolution of Miro's work, from the culture of his Catalan homeland to his exposure as a young man to the latest experiments of the avant-garde in Paris and the rise of Fascism in Spain. She examines not only Miro's paintings but also his sculpture, prints and murals, quoting from many of the artist's own revealing statements. For anyone wanting to explore the legacy left by the artist who declared that he wanted to 'assassinate painting', this concise introduction is the perfect guide.