Il était une petite pie (Once There Was a Little Magpie)

Il était une petite pie (Once There Was a Little Magpie) by Joan Miró is a singular contribution to the livre d'artiste tradition, created during a pivotal period in the artist's development. Classified as an Illustrated Book, this work was primarily conceived between 1927 and 1928 and subsequently published in 1928. This timeframe coincided with Miró's critical engagement with Surrealism, though his highly personalized, poetic language consistently set him apart from the core Parisian movement. The resulting book embodies the confluence of avant-garde literature and visual art that characterized European Modernism.

The composition consists of a series of plates realized using the pochoir technique, a sophisticated form of stenciling. This medium allowed Miró to apply vibrant, flat fields of color with striking clarity and precision, defining the eight distinct illustrations within the volume. The visual style features the biomorphic abstraction and reductive symbolism for which the artist is internationally known. Miró distilled natural and figurative elements into essential linear motifs and playful, primary forms, creating images that dance across the page and reflect the whimsical nature hinted at in the title. This technical mastery demonstrates Miró’s growing reputation not just as a painter, but as a master printmaker dedicated to exploring the potential of graphic arts.

This early work holds significant cultural importance as an example of Spanish Modernism’s influence on the broader European art scene. Today, the original piece resides within the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it contributes vital context to the understanding of printmaking and illustrated works of the period 1927-1928. The rarity of the original edition means that high-quality prints and reproductions are often the primary way the public can engage with this aspect of Miró’s oeuvre. These modern editions, sometimes derived from institutional holdings made available through public domain initiatives, ensure that this key Illustrated Book remains accessible for scholarly review and appreciation.