Hope of a Condemned Man I 1974

Joan Miró created ‘Hope of a Condemned Man I’ as part of a series of lithographs called "Hope of a Condemned Man," a portfolio of poems dedicated to Catalan activist, Salvador Puig Antich. The portfolio emerged during a time of political repression under Franco's regime in Spain. Miró's stark abstraction evokes both a personal sense of despair and a broader commentary on political oppression. The large amorphous form, outlined in thick black lines, suggests a figure struggling against confinement. The single blotch of red could represent a flicker of hope or the brutality of violence, reflecting the complex emotions associated with political struggle. Miró once said, "I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music." In this light, the arrangement of forms and colors in ‘Hope of a Condemned Man I’ are not merely aesthetic choices, but rather a visual language, echoing the activist's fight for freedom and justice. The artwork acts as a poignant reminder of the human spirit's resilience, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. It expresses the deeply personal hope for justice and liberation and reflects upon themes of political identity.