Piet Mondrian
Welcome to Mondrian Day!
For this art unit we will be studying a Dutch painter called Piet Mondrian. He is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is known for being one of the pioneers of 20th century abstract art. His art became increasingly abstract in style until he reached a point where his art was reduced to simple geometric elements.
Session One:
FactFile:
Name: Piet Mondrian
Nationality: Dutch
Dates: 7 March 1872 – 1 February 1944
Activity One – Terminology.
Define the following terms (read through the definitions and simplify each one into a simple sentence. You can use drawings to help with your definition):
This art dictionary may help.
- 20th century:
- Pioneer:
- Abstract:
- Geometric:
- De Stijl:
- Cubism:
Session Two:
Composition with Red Blue and Yellow was painted in 1930. A well-known work of abstraction, Mondrian contributes to the abstract visual language in a large way despite using a relatively small canvas. Thick, black brushwork defines the borders of the different geometric figures. Comparably, the black brushwork on the canvas is minimal but it is masterfully applied to become one of the defining features of the work.
Composition with Red Blue and Yellow is a product of the Dutch De Stijl movement, which translates to “The Style.”
Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1929
Mondrian’s simple geometric compositions.
Activity Two – Mondrian Printmaking Project.
Session Three:
Evening; Red Tree is a 1908-1910 oil on canvas painting . This painting shows the artist’s luminist period where he painted realistically but with brighter than actual colors and simplifying contours. This painting is a cross-over to his more rectangular and analytical style. Mondrian painted this painting in the Zeeland coastal resort of Domburg, at that time a popular artist’s colony in the summer months. His trees illustrate his shift towards abstract cubism.
Activity Three – Abstract Loose Impression of Piet Mondrian’s Red Tree. Choose ONE of these tutorials to follow.
Note: You do do NOT need to watch the whole thing. Feel free to fast forward a little as soon as you get the idea.
Session Four:
Broadway Boogie-Woogie was completed in 1943, after Mondrian had moved to New York in 1940. Compared to his earlier work, the canvas is divided into a much larger number of squares. Although he spent most of his career creating abstract work, this painting is inspired by clear real-world examples: the city grid of Manhattan, and the Broadway boogie woogie, a type of music Mondrian loved.
Activity Four – Broadway Boogie Woogie inspired lego build.
- Collect yellow, red, blue, and white lego bricks.
- Think of the area where you live and build a simple plan of it in the style of Broadway Boogie Woogie.
- Take pictures from several angles and display.
Session Five:
Activity Five-a – Basic Color Wheel Chart.
Activity Five-b – Create a picture in the style of Mondrian’s Composition with Red Blue and Yellow using complementary colours only, plus black and white.
Session Six:
Wrap up!
Which Piet Mondrian work of art are you?
