Composition With Yellow, Blue And Red by Piet Mondrian is a mature example of his abstract, geometric artwork. The canvas is filled with black brushwork defining rectangles of color. As with most of Mondrian’s works, the horizontal lines were painted first and most likely were an attempt to represent the horizon line in traditional painting. Asymmetry, pure planes of color and a commitment to relational opposites all demonstrate Mondrian’s artistic mastery throughout the 1937-42 duration of painting this piece.
Mondrian was inspired by Paris from 1937-38 when creating this masterpiece and decorated it with red, blue and yellow color fields when he moved to New York City in 1940-42. This artwork gives us insight into not just the style of abstract art that dominated modernism during this period but also the cultural influences at play throughout Mondrian’s life.
One can look at Composition With Yellow, Blue And Red for insight on how Piet Mondrian thought. To further explore his work, one should also investigate his 1918 painting Composition With Color Planes And Gray Lines 1 which shows how dark colors can represent feelings even though no human faces are seen in these works. By studying both pieces, we can gain an understanding into the motivations and inspirations behind Mondrian’s artwork.
