Joaquím Mir came from a lower middle-class background. He studied at the La Lonja School of Fine Art alongside his close friend and fellow student Isidre Nonell, under the tutelage of Antonio Caba and went on to do plein air painting with Luis Graner from 1889. In 1894, his work Sun and Shade was shown at the Fine Arts Exhibition in Barcelona. Around that time, he painted with Isidre Nonell and Juli Villamitjana, with whom he shared a studio in the area around Barcelona. The trio became known as the 'Saffron Gang' due to the colours they used in their paintings. He was a regular at the gatherings in Els Quatre Gats, where he struck up a friendship with Pablo Picasso, who painted his portrait. In 1894 he tried to obtain a scholarship to study at the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, but was rejected on this and other occasions. He painted in the environs of Madrid and frequented artists' gatherings in the city, interacting with Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, Ramiro de Maeztu and Pío Baroja. From 1900 to 1906 he lived in Majorca, where he painted with Santiago Rusiñol; and later in Vallés (1913-1919) and Caldas de Montbuy (1919-1922). He travelled around Catalonia, before finally settling in Villanueva i Geltrú. He participated in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, obtaining the Second Medal in 1899 and 1901. In 1915, his The Holm Oak and the Cow was acquired by the state. He won the First Medal at the national exhibitions of 1919 and 1929; and in 1930 was awarded the Medal of Honour. He exhibited regularly in Barcelona, at Sala Parés, Sala Reig and Galerías Layetanas. He was awarded the First Medal at the international exhibitions of Paris and Brussels (1912). In 1934 the Venice Biennale devoted a special room to him and the Sala Parés held a tribute exhibition on the occasion of the gallery's fiftieth anniversary.
Joaquím Mir came from a lower middle-class background. He studied at the La Lonja School of Fine Art alongside his close friend and fellow student Isidre Nonell, under the tutelage of Antonio Caba and went on to do plein air painting with Luis Graner from 1889. In 1894, his work Sun and Shade was shown at the Fine Arts Exhibition in Barcelona. Around that time, he painted with Isidre Nonell and Juli Villamitjana, with whom he shared a studio in the area around Barcelona. The trio became known as the 'Saffron Gang' due to the colours they used in their paintings. He was a regular at the gatherings in Els Quatre Gats, where he struck up a friendship with Pablo Picasso, who painted his portrait. In 1894 he tried to obtain a scholarship to study at the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, but was rejected on this and other occasions. He painted in the environs of Madrid and frequented artists' gatherings in the city, interacting with Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, Ramiro de Maeztu and Pío Baroja. From 1900 to 1906 he lived in Majorca, where he painted with Santiago Rusiñol; and later in Vallés (1913-1919) and Caldas de Montbuy (1919-1922). He travelled around Catalonia, before finally settling in Villanueva i Geltrú. He participated in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, obtaining the Second Medal in 1899 and 1901. In 1915, his The Holm Oak and the Cow was acquired by the state. He won the First Medal at the national exhibitions of 1919 and 1929; and in 1930 was awarded the Medal of Honour. He exhibited regularly in Barcelona, at Sala Parés, Sala Reig and Galerías Layetanas. He was awarded the First Medal at the international exhibitions of Paris and Brussels (1912). In 1934 the Venice Biennale devoted a special room to him and the Sala Parés held a tribute exhibition on the occasion of the gallery's fiftieth anniversary.