Blue 1, 2, 3

1961
Joan Mir

At first glance at these paintings, they appear to be quite simple and effortless. Yet
looking further you can see they are incredibly complex and intricate. There are
three massive canvases (each 10 meters across), all painted a bold and defiant blue,
streaked with random strokes of long, bright red, and spotted, blurry dots of black.
On one canvas, the black dots seem to vary in size, yet follow the same horizontal
line. Comparatively, on another, there is only one red line and one black dot. A thin
grey line can also be seen in two of the canvases; snaking from one corner to the
polar opposite corner. The texture appears to be smooth, and the paintbrush lines
look crisp and exact. Mir seems to play around with the how each painting directs
the eye: one is horizontal, one is vertical, and one is random yet centered. The
shapes of each stroke and dot differentiate and dont follow any kind of concrete
pattern, and the colors are vibrant, bright, and in-your-face.
The main focus of these paintings is the sharp, bold blue. This is an excellent
expression of Mirs fascination with the cosmic night and obtaining inner
spirituality. One of the most unique features of these paintings is how much the blue
stands out compared to the symbols. The blue space is so vibrant and so
unfathomably deep, that you (the viewer) are entirely absorbed in its forcefulness
and vastness. The red lines that streak through some of the canvases are a dynamic
shock against the composed blue. The black dots randomly spotted around each
painting convey the movement and direction of each art piece.
I dont think that this painting depicts a certain mythical creature or is a kind of
political statement; rather, I think it allows the viewer into the subconscious of Mir,
and allows the viewer to appreciate the unique style that Mir embodies. Its almost
as if Mir is creating a dreamy night, and the viewer is given a glimpse into the vast
infinity of his imagination.
As Mir said himself, The spectacle of the sky overwhelms me. Im overwhelmed
when I see, in an immense sky, the crescent of the moon, or the sun. There, in my
pictures, tiny forms in huge empty spaces. Empty spaces, empty horizons, empty
plains everything which is bare has always greatly impressed me. (Twentieth
Century Artists on Art, 1958) He created this painting as an energetic, bold piece
with bright colors to express the immenseness of the night sky and of dreams and
imagination.
Mir was influenced by Cubism, particularly Picasso, and this art piece definitely
embodies Cubism. It has simple shapes and movement, and has very definite lines
and colors.

This particular art piece stands out to me because of its raw simplicity, yet its
intricate meaning and interpretation. The deep blue really caught my eye, and I
loved his interpretation of the blue being the universe and encompassing the human
imagination: endless and vast.