The Birth of Day 1968

Joan Miro made this painting, The Birth of Day, with oil paint, and it’s a real testament to how something simple can feel so profound. The colors are so direct - the primary palette, right? - red, yellow, and blue, with a punchy green backdrop. It's like Miro is drawing with paint, letting shapes suggest themselves. Look at that sweeping black line that defines the central form. It's so confident, so sure of itself, but also kind of wobbly and organic. It reminds me of the way Cy Twombly would just let the line wander, full of possibility. You get the sense he’s feeling his way through the painting, adjusting as he goes. Miro’s work really insists on the power of play. Like Paul Klee, he makes you remember that art doesn’t always have to be so serious; sometimes, it can just be about making marks and seeing where they lead you.