Piet Mondrian: The Studios

Amsterdam, Laren, Paris, London, New York

Cees W. de Jong

£29.95

An exploration of Piet Mondrian’s work, following the path of the cities that influenced him

See Inside

Overview

Here is a visual journey through Piet Mondrian's life and career via the artist's studios, following his path from Amsterdam to Laren, and then to Paris, London and New York. Each location represents a distinct stage in the development of Mondrian's art, from the naturalistic paintings of the 1890s and the experimental neo-Impressionist works of the early 20th century, to his involvement with the De Stijl movement and his famous grid paintings, and finally the bold dynamism of his late work in the United States, inspired by the rhythms of jazz and the buzzing metropolis.

Mondrian saw his studios as more than just workspaces; they were the embodiment of his artistic and philosophical ideas. As his art took simplification of form to an extreme, the walls of his studios became ever-changing planes that he used for the display of primary-coloured rectangles.

Illustrated with a wealth of paintings as well as personal photographs, documents and texts written by Mondrian himself, the book captures every facet of this uncompromising artist's quest to represent the spirits of the modern world.

Reviews

'A thorough account of Mondrian’s career and creative process, seen through the lens of the spaces that were important to him … far more than just another account of an artist whose path has been trodden many times before'
Artbook Review

'Building on an exhibition at Tate Liverpool last year that considered the mature phase of his career, the new book expands the narrative to consider his early days in Amsterdam … it also includes excerpts from Mondrian’s writings, never before published in English'
Daily Telegraph

Product Information

Book Details

Format: Hardback

Size: 27.0 x 21.0 cm

Extent: 240 pp

Publication date: 24 August 2015

ISBN: 9780500239353

Contents List

‘A visual journey along the studios of Piet Mondrian/Amsterdam, Laren, Paris, London, New York’, Cees W. de Jong • ‘From bohemian brown to stylish black and white/ The studios in Amsterdam’, Marty Bax • ‘The great struggle/The studios in Laren’, Martijn F. le Coultre • ‘Artistic and philosophic connections/Long lines and varying contacts’, Marty Bax • ‘Place of free spirit/Fruitful meetings’, Marjory Degen • ‘“As soon as you stepped inside you were in paradise”/The studio in Paris’, Ingelies Vermeulen • ‘The new plasticism in the art of painting/IV. Plastic and composition, De Stijl, No. X, 1th year 1917, Piet Mondriaan • ‘The realization of neo-plasticism in the distant future and in today’s architecture/De Stijl, No. 5, 5th year May 1922’, P. Mondrian • ‘10 years of style/De Stijl, No. 79-84, Jubilee-series (XIV). 1927.’, P. Mondrian • ‘Neo - Plasticisme. The Home- The Street - The City/i10 Amsterdam 1927, Piet Mondriaan • ‘Color planes climbing up the walls/The studio in London’, Marty Bax • ‘Like a walk in one of Mondriaan’s paintings”/The last studios in New York’, Ingelies Vermeulen • ‘All that Jazz/Victory Boogie Woogie

About the Author

Cees W. de Jong is Director of the design studio and publishing company V+K Design-Publishing in the Netherlands. He has written a number of books, including Dutch Graphic Design, New Poster Art, Creative Type, Piet Mondrian: The Studios and Sans Serif, all published by Thames & Hudson.

List of Contributors

Marty Bax, Marjory Degen, Katjuscha Otte, Martijn F. Le Coultre, Ingelies Vermeulen