Small Fragments

Our Hommage to Mondrian series in the style of Neoplasticism gives this style a new expression on our porcelain mugs. Piet Mondrian (full name, Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan) was a Dutch painter of classical modernism. Mondrian was born on 7 March 1872 as the second of 5 children. His mother was often ill, and so his only daughter, aged 8, had to take care of the household, while his father, who wanted to become a teacher, preferred to work voluntary overtime and travelled frequently. These experiences left deep marks on Mondrian's personality. The emotional distance from his father and the stresses of family life led Mondrian to develop a deep mistrust of close human relationships in his later youth and adulthood. For this reason, he remained unmarried throughout his life and avoided long-term relationships.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Mondrian was also an important theorist. He was a co-founder of the Dutch artists' group De Stijl, which emerged in 1917 and established Neo-Plasticism as an art movement with clear principles. In his writings, Mondrian emphasised the idea that art should not imitate reality, but rather reflect a universal harmony and order. These principles were reflected in his consistently reduced style, which was based on rectangular primary colour fields (red, blue, yellow) and black lines.

Mondrian's works had a far-reaching influence on architecture, design and other areas of art. His radical abstraction and striving for harmony and balance made him a key pioneer of modern art and a minimalist understanding of aesthetics.

Piet Mondrian's life was strongly characterised by his travels, which not only represented geographical changes of location, but also artistic turning points. They took him to the most important centres of modern art and reflected his search for a universal expression of harmony.

Paris: The influence of Cubism

Mondrian left the Netherlands in 1911 and moved to Paris, the epicentre of the avant-garde at the time. His encounter with the revolutionary art of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso had a profound influence on his work. Under the influence of Cubism, he began to break down the natural world into geometric forms, which represented a decisive departure from his earlier, nature-based works. Mondrian found an inspiring environment in Paris, which drove him to develop an abstract language. He remained there until 1914, but the outbreak of the First World War forced him to return to the Netherlands.

Return to the Netherlands: The road to neoplasticism

During his return to the Netherlands, Mondrian developed a new artistic vision in relative isolation. During this time, he began to study theosophy more intensively, a spiritual movement that strongly influenced him. Mondrian believed that art could reveal universal truths and endeavoured to create a pure, abstracted formal language.

In 1917 he joined the De Stijl group around Theo van Doesburg, whose members called for a radical union of form and color. Although Mondrian remained in the Netherlands during this period, he remained in contact with the international avant-garde through correspondence and publications.

Return to Paris: The Peak of Neoplasticism

After the end of the First World War, Mondrian returned to Paris in 1919, where he further developed the principles of neoplasticism. This period marked the peak of his style: rectangular areas of color in red, blue, yellow, black and white, separated by straight black lines. Paris remained a central place of inspiration and artistic exchange for Mondrian, but the outbreak of World War II forced him to move again in 1938.

London: A Place of Transition

Mondrian moved from Paris to London to escape the impending chaos of war. He lived there for two years and looked for new opportunities to further develop his art. London did not offer Mondrian the same artistic dynamism as Paris, but it was a safe haven in an uncertain time. Here too he remained productive before the war forced him to flee again.

New York: The final stage of life

In 1940 Mondrian emigrated to the United States and settled in New York. The city impressed him deeply with its energy and modernity. In New York, Mondrian experienced an artistic revival, inspired by the vibrant music scene, particularly jazz. His works from this period, such as Broadway Boogie Woogie (1942-43), are lively and dynamic, a tribute to the city that never sleeps. Mondrian incorporated smaller, rhythmic color fields that reflected the streets and energy of New York.

New York became the last stop in Mondrian's life. He died there on February 1, 1944. His travels and relocations were crucial to the development of his unique artistic style, which continued to evolve as he was exposed to new environments and influences. Mondrian's ability to continually reinvent himself made him one of the most important artists of the 20th century.