[jamiecurle]

Authenticity nitpick: during this period where Mondrian produced geometrical works, he was emerging from theosophy as a primary influence towards universal truths. A key part of this was never using green. It's my pet peeve when people cite Mondrian based on geometry and then use green.

This is why I don't get invited to many places.

[snarf21]

Also, his abstract art was a push back against the realism in art at the time plus the horrible realism of war. He family said, "Abstract art is not the creation of another reality but the true vision of reality". He believed that by abstracting forms and colors to their essential horizontal and vertical lines and primary hues, an artist could express the fundamental, spiritual truths of the universe and achieve a pure, universal beauty and dynamic equilibrium.

Source: I've done a lot of Mondrian research while creating a board game where you actually make art in the Mondrian style while playing.

[domador]

Fascinating vision about abstract art. And here I thought all these artists were trying to get away from reality.

On a different note, I'd love to see that board game.

[jamiecurle]

Man I'd like to hang out. No one I know is a Mondrian nerd. I love all his work and have a few replicas hanging around my home.

[solomonb]

My grandfather was a painter. He had a friend who shared a studio with Mondrian at one point. His friend said that Mondrian would be very quiet then periodically would shout along the lines of "FUCK NOW I NEED TO MOVE THIS LINE HALF AN INCH TO THE LEFT."