Joan MiróSpanish, 1893–1983A toute épreuve (Foolproof)
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “A toute épreuve (Foolproof)” now? Collection: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Minneapolis, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
À toute épreuve, with text by the French poet Paul Éluard and original woodcuts by the Catalan surrealist Joan Miró, is a triumph of twentieth-century book art. The publisher, Gérald Cramer, first approached Miró with the idea to illustrate Éluard's book of poems in 1947. Miró cut more than 230 woodblocks over a period of nearly eleven years to complete the project. In addition to traditional woodcut, he also used the technique of collotype-wood blocks collaged with various natural and manufactured materials-to add distinctions of texture and form to his designs.
Read on
Early into the project, Miró wrote to his publisher …I have made some trials which have allowed me to see what it was to make a book and not merely to illustrate it. Illustration is always a secondary matter. The important thing is that a book have all the dignity of a sculpture carved in marble. The result was a brilliantly inventive and harmonious interweaving of Miró's amorphous abstract imagery with Éluard's evocative poetry.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Details
- Accession number
- B.83.10
In the catalog
Sources
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art — © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
In the life of Joan Miró
The whole life1958
The Guggenheim International Award
Miró was given the Guggenheim International Award.
1959 · Award
Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise
1959
“Homage to Surrealism”: Miró represents Spain
André Breton asked Miró to represent Spain in the “Homage to Surrealism” exhibition alongside Enrique Tábara, Salvador Dalí and Eugenio Granell.
11 July 1959 – 11 October 1959
Exhibition: Documenta II
