Composition 12 by Piet Mondrian

This bold plastic proposition embodies to perfection the structural minimalism specific to the theories of the De Stijl group. With the piece entitled “Composition 12”, the undisputed master Piet Mondrian pushes the purification of form to its paroxysm by granting a preponderant place to a single color. This intellectual and sensitive work frees itself from the classical rules of perspective to impose a sovereign flatness where the pictorial space lives by its own strength.

An immense and spectacular scarlet red surface takes over almost the entire upper right quadrant and the center, instantly saturating the vision. The left side opposes this hegemony with two rectangular sections of pure white, separated horizontally by a thick black line. In the lower left corner, a deep cobalt blue square creates an immediate thermal and chromatic tension with the upper red mass. At the extreme opposite, the lower right edge shows a white opening and a tiny canary yellow cell nestled at the very bottom. The asymmetrical black grid structures this asymmetrical dialogue with remarkable authority.

The incredible dexterity of Piet Mondrian is illustrated here in his ability to make a very large monochrome surface vibrate without creating monotony. His irreproachable technique of the flat tint and the surgical sharpness of his outlines confirm an extraordinary manual craftsmanship.