LONDON.- Tate Modern presents the first major retrospective of Joan Miró (1893–1983) to be held in London for almost 50 years. The exhibition is on view from April 14 through September 11, 2011. Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape brings together over 150 paintings, works on paper and sculptures by one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists. The exhibition draws on collections from around the world to represent the astonishing breadth of Miró’s output. It also explores the wider context of his work, bringing to light the artist’s political engagement and examining the influence of his Catalan identity, the Spanish Civil War and the rise and fall of Franco’s regime. Miró was among the most iconic of modern artists, evolving a Surrealist language of symbols that evokes a sense of freedom and energy in its fantastic imagery and direct colour. Often regarded as a forefather of Abstract Expressionism, his