Piet Mondrian
Nonrepresentational Artist
"Abstract art is not the creation of another reality but the true vision of reality."
Triangulated Farmhouse Facade with Polder in Blue, c. 1990. Watercolor and gouache on paper.
Early in his career, Mondrian concentrated on realistic landscapes. Here, the geometric shapes of the house contrast with the organic shapes and shrubs .
Geinrust Farm with Isolated Tree. Oil on canvas.
At Work. Watercolor.
Chrysanthemum. Watercolor on paper.
Even in his early realistic work, notice how he limited his palette to two primary colors (blue and yellow).
Composition, 1916. Oil on canvas.
After seeing the Cubist exhibition, Mondrian began creating complex geometric abstractions.
Composition A, 1920. Oil on canvas.
Over several years, through experimentation, Mondrian's style developed, his colors became bold, his geometric shapes solid and larger.