Personal life

Name of Artist: Piet Mordrian

Birth Date: March 7, 1872

Birth Place: Amersfoot, Netherlands

What later life events (marriage, children, deaths, etc.) had a major influence on the
artist?
Mondrian was married to his art, he remained single throughout his life. Being exposed
to art at an early age by his father, a school teacher, and later going to school to be a
teacher himself seemed to set him on his path in life. While he did not marry, having
close friendship with other paints did influence his art, Theo Van Doesburg being one of
those influences. His study of spiritual aspects of like also had a profound influence in
his work. Mondrian said To approach the spiritual in art, one will make as little use as
possible of reality, because reality is opposed to the spiritual

Time Period

Describe what prevailing style of art was popular when the artist first started? (Your
description should be at least three complete sentences in length.)
During the early part of is art career Mondrian was involved with naturalism. This is what
was popular at the time and what is formal train was. His work during this time where
landscapes, such as churches, fields, cows. He also did a self portrait

What new style did the artist start, or get involved in?
De stijl-or Neo-plasticism abtract art focusing on lines, black, white and primary colors

What important historical events happened during the artists lifetime that influenced one
or more pieces? (Your response should be a minimum of 100 words and complete
sentences.)
World War 1 caused Mondrian to leave Pairs not long after moving there. While back in
Netherlands he become part of the group that started the De stijl movement. During this
time he also wrote about the philashopy behind the movement. The next historical event
that effected Mondrian was the second world war. Like many artist, he moved to New
York to escape the danger of the war. In New York, the exposer of to Jazz music started
to influence his art. The best known is Boogie-Woogie. Jazz and Mondrians geometric
focused work were a good match. In Boogie-woogie, the rhythm of the music and be seen
in a two-dimensional format.
Select one piece that your artist did

Name of the piece: Gray Tree

Copy and paste your artists painting here:

What is it about?
It is about bringing a tree.

Why did you choose this piece?

First, the rhythm of this painting that really draws me to this painting. Second, it makes a
transition in the work of Mondrian.

Name two elements of design that the artist used in this piece:
The line: this complex shape is nothing more than a set of limes
Texture: the painting seems to have for much depth due to the textured strokes around the
lines

Name one principle of design that the artist used in this piece:
Rhythm: the combination of texture and lines gives this piece a very please yet thought
provoking rhythm.

When you first looked at this piece what was your reaction to it? Contrast, was the first
reaction, simple yet complicated and the same time. A simple subject of a bare tree yet
the complicated chaos of strokes that comprise it.

Did your reaction change as you studied this piece? Explain.

Studying this piece confirmed my first reaction. This being Mondrian move into the de
Stijl movement that he would form. Also the spiritual aspect Mondrian wanted to
combine with his art is felt in this piece.

Sources

List two sources you used to gather your information

1. Alston, Isabella. Mondrian. TAJ Books International, 2014. EBSCOhost, libprox1.slcc.edu/login?

url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=967540&site=eds-live.

2. http://www.theartstory.org/artist-mondrian-piet.htm