Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) is a person.

• Context:
  • They can (typically) be recognized as a pioneer of abstract art, known for reducing his artistic vocabulary to simple geometric elements and primary colors.
  • They can (often) be associated with the De Stijl art movement, which he co-founded with Theo van Doesburg, emphasizing neoplasticism.
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  • They can range from his early works like Gray Tree (1911), which reflect his transition from figurative painting to abstraction, to his later iconic works.
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  • They can be credited with influencing not only 20th-century painting but also design, architecture, and fashion, making him a significant figure in modernism.
  • They can be known for his theory that art should transcend reality to achieve universal beauty, a principle that guided much of his work.
  • They can be remembered for his influence on subsequent art movements, including Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Color Field painting.
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• Example(s):
  • the creation of Gray Tree in 1911, which marks Mondrian's early steps towards abstraction and his exploration of Cubism.
  • Tableau I, 1921, Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
  • the development of Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow in 1930, which exemplifies his mature neoplasticism, characterized by geometric forms and primary colors.
  • the introduction of Broadway Boogie Woogie in 1943, a piece inspired by the dynamic rhythm of New York City and reflecting Mondrian's adaptation of neoplasticism to a new cultural context.
  • the co-founding of the De Stijl movement in 1917 with Theo van Doesburg, which became a critical platform for Mondrian's ideas on neoplasticism.
  • the creation of Victory Boogie Woogie (unfinished at the time of his death in 1944), which shows his final artistic evolution, integrating the vibrancy of modern city life into his abstract style.
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• Counter-Example(s):
  • Vincent van Gogh, who, although a Dutch painter like Mondrian, focused on emotional expression and bold colors in a representational style, in contrast to Mondrian's abstract and minimalist approach.
  • Claude Monet, whose work in impressionism emphasized the effects of light and color in representational scenes, differing from Mondrian's focus on geometric abstraction.
• See: Modernism, Dutch Painter, Abstract Art, Gray Tree, Composition With Red Blue And Yellow, Broadway Boogie Woogie, Victory Boogie Woogie.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Mondrian Retrieved:2024-9-3.
  • Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan (), after 1906 known as Piet Mondrian (, also , ; 7 March 1872 – 1 February 1944), was a Dutch painter and art theoretician who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He was one of the pioneers of 20th-century abstract art, as he changed his artistic direction from figurative painting to an increasingly abstract style, until he reached a point where his artistic vocabulary was reduced to simple geometric elements.

    Mondrian's art was highly utopian and was concerned with a search for universal values and aesthetics. He proclaimed in 1914: "Art is higher than reality and has no direct relation to reality. To approach the spiritual in art, one will make as little use as possible of reality, because reality is opposed to the spiritual. We find ourselves in the presence of an abstract art. Art should be above reality, otherwise it would have no value for man."

    He was a contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which he co-founded with Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neoplasticism. This was the new 'pure plastic art' which he believed was necessary in order to create 'universal beauty'. To express this, Mondrian eventually decided to limit his formal vocabulary to the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), the three primary values (black, white, and gray), and the two primary directions (horizontal and vertical). Mondrian's arrival in Paris from the Netherlands in 1911 marked the beginning of a period of profound change. He encountered experiments in Cubism and with the intent of integrating himself within the Parisian avant-garde removed an 'a' from the Dutch spelling of his name (Mondriaan).

    Mondrian's work had an enormous influence on 20th-century art, influencing not only the course of abstract painting and numerous major styles and art movements (e.g. Color Field painting, Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism), but also fields outside the domain of painting, such as design, architecture and fashion. Design historian Stephen Bayley said: "Mondrian has come to mean Modernism. His name and his work sum up the High Modernist ideal. I don't like the word 'iconic', so let's say that he's become totemic – a totem for everything Modernism set out to be."

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