To mark the centenary of Antoni Tàpies and the 130th birthday of Joan Miró, Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster is staging a major special exhibition. The works of the two most important Catalan artists of the 20th century are set in an intriguing dialogue with each other. Despite their great age difference, the two artists were close friends and drew inspiration from each other’s art.

This publication focuses on the graphic work of Antoni Tàpies and Joan Miró, which is fundamental to the oeuvre of the two Catalans. In their graphic prints, both artists developed novel ways of expression and an independent graphic style characterized by the depiction of strokes, dots, letters and symbols: there seem to be no more boundaries between painting, drawing and writing. In this context, the title World on Paper has an ambiguous meaning. On the one hand, it alludes to specific real-world references in the work of both artists, i.e. objects such as items of clothing, found pieces of wood, or even newspaper clippings; on the other hand, it addresses the historical time frame. The work of Tàpies and Miró is closely linked to the history of Spain, the opposition to the Franco regime, and the quest for Catalan identity.