Piet Mondrian is a Dutch painter of the 19th-20th centuries, one of the “discoverers” of the abstract style. Piet Mondrian’s paintings were naturalistic at first, but at some point everything changed dramatically. The work of the master became strictly geometric, straight lines and certain colors were used in his works. The artist’s biography is a story about a man who lived modestly, devoting himself entirely to art.
Biography of Pete Mondrian
Pete Mondrian was born in 1872 in a Dutch town. The boy showed interest in painting since childhood, but he had to postpone the art school. The family insisted that the young man receive a pedagogical education. Only in 1892 did the young man enter the Amsterdam Academy of Fine Arts.
Piet Mondrian created landscapes in the style of impressionism, describing the beauty of his native Holland. At some point, the artist became interested in the theosophy of Helena Blavatsky. After that, the painter’s work changed dramatically. He began to express his vision of the world through abstraction.
In 1914 the artist moved to Paris, and two years later he went home to visit his sick father. Because of the hostilities, the painter manages to return to France only in 1919. Here he continues to improve in abstractionism.
In 1937, a controversial moment came in the work of the master. The German exhibition “Degenerate Art” has opened. This included avant-garde works that were considered “anti-German” and dangerous for the nation. Paintings by Piet Mondrian were also included in the exhibition. On the one hand, the exhibition attracted a lot of people, bringing fame to the authors of the works. On the other hand, the artist understood that it was now unsafe for him to be in Europe.
In 1938, Mondrian moved to London, and in 1940 to the United States. The pace of life of the local population, constant movement, openness to experiments in art – all this captures the artist. Rhythm, depth, mood appear in his works.
The Americans were completely delighted with the paintings of the painter. Patron Peggy Guggenheim helped the artist gain popularity by exhibiting his work in her gallery. It was here, in the United States, that Pete Mondrian received the greatest recognition in the last years of his life.
The most famous paintings by Piet Mondrian
“Mill by the Water” (1908). One of the works of the early period of the author’s work. Here we see the usual landscape in muted colors. At that time, it was difficult to imagine how much the artist’s paintings would change.
Mahogany (1910). A kind of transition from realism to abstractionism. The author depicted a tree at night. The work traces the rejection of the classical ideas about color and shape. Scarlet and cobalt shades are the result of the influence of post-impressionism on Mondrian’s work.
“Blooming Apple Tree” (1912). The painting shows how masterfully the author mastered the technique of abstract painting. Here you can see a tree made up of thin wavy lines. The silvery green details are reminiscent of leaves.
Broadway Boogie Woogie (1943). Mondrian admired the rhythm of this dance and decided to express it in a piece. Also here you can see the streets of a big city in which life is in full swing day and night.
Other people of art were also inspired by the artist’s works. Based on his paintings, interior items and clothing were created. As a result, the “Mondrian” style became part of pop culture.
