Piet Mondrian, a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern art, created the abstract masterpiece “Place de la Concorde” between 1938 and 1943. This work is a testament to his innovative spirit and his role as a co-founder of the De Stijl movement in 1917, which revolutionized art by stripping it down to its most fundamental elements and rejecting the representation of visually perceived reality.
“Place de la Concorde” embodies Mondrian’s commitment to Neoplasticism, a style characterized by a strict use of straight lines, right angles, and a palette limited to primary colors alongside black, white, and grays. The painting, now housed at the Dallas Museum of Art, was part of a transformative period in Mondrian’s career, marking his departure from realistic landscapes towards the grid-based compositions he is best known for today.
Mondrian’s journey as an artist took him from the Netherlands to Paris, where he left behind significant personal ties to fully immerse himself in his artistic pursuits. His relocation to New York City years later brought new influences into his work, as seen in “New York City I,” another notable piece from this era. Mondrian’s art, including “Place de la Concorde,” is not merely aesthetic but also philosophical, reflecting his belief in abstraction as a universal language capable of expressing the dynamic forces of nature and human experience more truthfully than traditional illusionistic depictions.
The creation of “Place de la Concorde” coincided with a tumultuous time in Europe, as Mondrian fled Paris in 1938 due to the impending war and eventually settled in New York City. Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, Mondrian continued to develop his iconic style, which would go on to influence countless artists and leave an indelible mark on the course of art history.
