047 - Onésime (M.1075), 1975

"Onésime (M.1075)" is a lithograph created by Joan Miró in 1975. From the edition of 65, the artwork is signed 'Miró' lower right and annotated lower left. The artwork is framed in a custom closed-corner gold leaf frame and has a framed size of 45 x 34". The artwork ships framed and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Created in 1975, Joan Miró’s "Onésime" is a vivid example of the artist’s late lithographic work, combining bold graphic presence with the poetic ambiguity that defines his mature style. Made during a period of remarkable creative freedom, the print shows Miró continuing to explore the expressive possibilities of line, color, and form with the confidence of an artist fully in command of his visual language.

Like "Eustache," "Onésime" belongs to a group of lithographs whose titles suggest named figures or presences rather than literal subjects. The name gives the image a sense of character, but Miró does not illustrate a specific person. Instead, he creates an invented being through sweeping black forms, floating eyes, radiant color, and animated signs. The result feels part figure, part creature, part dream image.

The composition is immediately engaging. A large black form moves through the center of the sheet with dramatic rhythm, giving the image both structure and motion. Around it, passages of red, blue, yellow, green, pink, and black activate the surface, while speckled marks create atmosphere and visual energy. The image feels spontaneous, but the balance is carefully controlled. Miró allows the forms to move freely without losing compositional harmony.

Color is one of the great strengths of "Onésime." The red ground gives the work warmth and intensity, while the blue, yellow, and green accents bring brightness and contrast. The mottled and speckled passages add depth, making the surface feel lively rather than flat. Miró’s color is not descriptive; it is emotional and rhythmic, creating mood, movement, and surprise.

As with much of Miró’s mature work, "Onésime" hovers between abstraction and recognition. Viewers may sense eyes, limbs, a head, a bird-like form, or a theatrical character, yet the image remains open and fluid. This ability to suggest without fixing meaning is central to Miró’s appeal. He creates a world that is accessible at first glance but continues to reveal new relationships over time.

"Onésime" brings together many of the qualities collectors value in Miró’s lithographs: strong scale, vivid color, memorable imagery, and a balance of playfulness and sophistication. It is a confident late work that captures Miró’s enduring belief in imagination, invention, and the expressive power of simple forms.