When Joan Miró left Spain for Paris in 1920, he took a cake for Pablo Picasso. Besides both being artists of Spanish descent, their mothers were friends. At 27, Miró was ready to meet the older artist he so admired. He asked Picasso’s mother if she’d like to send anything to her son. A cake it was, and Miró’s delivery forged a lasting relationship. Picasso served as mentor, introducing Miró to the Parisian art community, and as brother in opposition to the rise of fascism during the Spanish Civil War. One of the banners used to promote the Denver Art Museum’s exhibition, Joan Miró: Instinct & Imagination, featured Miró’s painting, Woman, Bird, and Star (Homage to Picasso).
