Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) is recognised for his distinctive geometric-style paintings, composed of red, blue, and yellow rectangles, intersected by bold black lines. After many years spent exploring figurative painting, the Dutch-born artist became a pioneer of abstract painting. His reflections on art and his style quickly inspired his contemporaries and continue to influence artists, creators, and architects to this day.

Abstract Art According to Piet Mondrian

Mondrian was one of the first artists to pave the way for abstract art in the early 1910s, alongside contemporaries such as Vassily Kandinsky and Robert Delaunay. He adopted abstraction in 1914 after spending some time working with cubism, which he refined over the years. However, Mondrian held a rather different attitude towards abstraction compared to his contemporaries, particularly in contrast to the more lyrical and expressive approach of Kandinsky.

From 1916 onwards, his paintings became more refined, moving further away from nature and eliminating curved, wavy lines and the colour green. Eventually, Piet Mondrian retained only the three primary colours and right angles in his works. Towards the end of his life, his style evolved once again when he moved to New York, where his colours began to seep into the lines themselves. Abandoning black, Mondrian created more complex structures in works such as Broadway Boogie-Woogie, completed in 1942.

The Role of Colour in His Work

Colour always played a crucial role in Piet Mondrian's work. Before delving into his iconic coloured grids, the painter experimented with other styles, as demonstrated by his famous painting The Red Tree. In this work, inspired by Fauvism, the tree stands out through the complementarity of colours. These primary colours followed Mondrian throughout his life.

The abstract art that became Mondrian's signature style consists of black lines on a white background, delineating squares coloured in red, blue, and yellow. By separating these primary colours, Mondrian deconstructs painting and distances himself from the academic and figurative art of the late 19th century. He represents the structure of the world by breaking it down: his lines and colours appear raw and unembellished. Through a composition alternating between white and colour, Mondrian manages to express emotions and create an exceptional asymmetrical harmony.

Piet Mondrian's Influence on Modern Art

Mondrian’s style has inspired artists since the creation of his most famous work, the oil on canvas titled Composition with Red, Yellow, Blue, and Black, painted in 1921. The Dutch painter thus sparked a revolution in the world of modern art. His unique geometric work and reflections on abstract art have inspired numerous artists, including Kasimir Malevich, as well as the principles of the De Stijl artistic movement, led by architect Theo van Doesburg.

Paintings, sculptures, furniture, and buildings inspired by Mondrian were created by members of the De Stijl movement. Since then, Piet Mondrian has continuously influenced the world of fashion, architecture, and interior design across different eras.