WASHINGTON, DC.- Joan Miró’s triptych Mural Painting I–III (1962), on loan from a private collection, was installed on September 29, 2011, on the East Building Mezzanine—seven months in advance of the opening of Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape. This triptych uses large monochromatic color fields of yellow-orange, green, and red (each canvas measures 104 3/4 x 136 1/16 inches) on which a set of symbols (two dots and three vertical lines on the first canvas; a few calligraphic lines on the other two) is superimposed. Counted among the most important modern artists, Miró used a language of symbols and a range of techniques that reflect his personal vision, sense of freedom, and boundless energy.

Miró's (1893–1983) affection for his native Catalonia and his passionate response to one of the most turbulent periods in European history will be examined in the first exhibition of the artist's work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington. On view in the East Building from May 6 to August 12, 2012, Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape will bring together some 80 paintings, works on paper, and sculptures drawn from his entire career and explore his immersion in issues of Catalan identity and anarchism, which appeared in his work early on as a response to contemporary events and remained with him throughout his life.

The exhibition was organized by Tate Modern, London, where it was on view April 14 through September 11, 2011, in collaboration with Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona, which will present it from October 14, 2011, to March 25, 2012, and in association with the National Gallery of Art, Washington.