Montroig Village and Church

Mont-roig del Camp is a large town found in Baix Camp, Catalonia, Spain. It played an important role in the life of Joan Miro and inspired many of his famous paintings.

The colour schemes used by Miro were inspired by the bright landscapes of this region, just as Dali made use of inspirations from his childhood town of Figueras. Miro also enjoyed wandering around the landscape which surrounds Montroig, and would often see all manner of wildlife going about its business. For example, a darting hare inspired one painting, whilst local birds also appear frequently in abstract form, over a number of decades. Montroig Village and Church actually focuses on the town itself and unveils some of the beautiful architecture that he would have enjoyed at that time. We see elements of gardens in the foreground, and perhaps a bridge, whilst the architecture dominates the upper part of the canvas, with a bright blue sky finishing this bright, upbeat piece.

There is no need for any surrealist or abstract touches here - Miro simply takes on the challenge of this compact town with angles of architecture in every direction. There is a consistency in the brickwork, but each building has its own characteristics, be it a small flag, perhaps a puff of smoke from a chimney, or just a different angle of facade that makes it unique. The work can perhaps be described as modernist and will attract many who may not like his more abstract work. This was a highly skilled and versatile artist who mastered a number of different artistic styles and materials, though he remains more famous for his abstract iconography than with the style found in this painting. Personally, we adore the photographic reproduction qualities of this painting, where Miro managed to recreate every last detail of this complex and charming cityscape.

"...As soon as I start painting a landscape. I can feel myself beginning to love that scene with a love that springs from a gradual understanding. I gradually begin to comprehend the enormous wealth of nuances - a concentrated wealth which is a gift from the sun. It is the joy of being outside, in the country, and waiting for an understanding of a blade of grass - why should one despise this blade of grass, which is as beautiful as a tree or a mountain? Except for primitive tribes and the Japanese, nobody has ever really taken any profound interest in these divine things. People only ever look for and paint masses of trees or mountains, without listening for the music that pours forth from tiny flowers, blades of grass and little stones by the side of one's path..."