Portrait of Hiberto Casany (The Chauffeur) - Joan Miró

An early 1918 portrait by Joan Miró, featuring bold Fauvist colours and a striking, expressive composition of his subject, Hiberto Casany.

Painted in 1918, this early work by Joan Miró captures the subject, Hiberto Casany, with a directness that reflects the influence of Fauvism and early modern European movements on the young artist. The composition is dominated by a bold, saturated yellow background, which pushes the figure forward and flattens the pictorial space. Miró employs non-naturalistic colour choices, particularly in the skin tones and the surrounding environment, to prioritise emotional expression over realistic representation.

Casany is depicted wearing a dark, textured coat and a bowler hat, his hands resting in his lap. The brushwork is energetic, with visible strokes that define the contours of the figure and the fabric of his clothing. A small, framed image of a motor car hangs on the wall behind him, serving as a literal reference to his profession as a chauffeur. This inclusion adds a narrative element to the portrait, grounding the stylised figure in a specific social context.

During this period, Miró was experimenting with various styles, moving away from his earlier academic training. The influence of Vincent van Gogh and the French Fauves is evident in the aggressive application of paint and the rejection of traditional shading. The portrait lacks the surrealist vocabulary that would later define Miró's career, yet it demonstrates his early mastery of colour and form. The work remains a clear example of his transition toward a more personal, subjective visual language. The contrast between the warm yellow ground and the dark, heavy tones of the sitter's attire creates a tension that draws the eye to the subject's gaze. It is a study in character, rendered with the confidence of an artist beginning to break free from conventional portraiture.