Piet Mondrian

Painter Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was one of De Stijl artists who 'sought universal laws of balance and harmony'. His paintings are an influence of the movements philosophy but by 1911 Mondrian abandoned the traditional landscape and started to paint in a symbolic style which expressed the 'forces of nature'. It was fellow painter Van Gogh that influenced him to do this. This very soon made him aware of cubist paintings and in 1912 he went to live in Paris where he began to imply 'the vocabulary of cubism' in his work. In the years that followed Mondrian rid his art from all typical elements and changed cubism by implying a pure a geometric abstraction. In 1914 the war broke out and Mondrian remained where he was in Holland throughout the war.

Mondrians thinking was also influenced by M.H.J Schoenmakers a philosopher whose definition of the horizontal and the vertical are the 'two fundamental opposites shaping our world'. It was this philosopher that named red, yellow and blue the three Principal colours. Mondrian soon began to compose abstract paintings which where designed from horizontal and vertical lines. He believed that true reality in visual art 'is attained through dynamic movement in equilibrium establish through the balance of unequal but equivalent oppositions. The clarification of equilibrism through plastic art is of great importance for humanity. It is the task of art to express a clear vision of reality'.

Mondrian created a body of paintings portraying 'incomparable spiritual and formal quality'. The an symmetrical balance in his compositions brought out complete harmony.(Fig 15-41).
Like Theo Van Doesburg, Piet Mondrian shared the same abstract ideas. They both wanted to create art without meaning. However they wished to imply order. They together composed compositions inspiring one another.

In several of his paintings Mondrian applies multiple features where the usage of straight lines, bold colours, black and white, sharp edges and right angles are clearly identified marking his work.

Mondrian an Abstract Art 1977

References:

Sweet, L., 2008. Mondrian Madness: In Furniture, Shoes, Home Decor & More.. [Online] 

Available at: http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/08/mondrian-madness-in-furniture-shoes.html

bleasby, l. m., 2013. Piet Mondrian Theosophy - Theosophical Society - Neoplasticism. [Online] 

Available at: http://wafglobal.ning.com/group/arthistory/forum/topics/piet-mondrian-theosophy-theosophical-society-neoplasticism