Mondrian, Piet

* March 7, 1872 - † February 1, 1944



biography

Piet Mondrian was born as Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan on March 7, 1872 in Amersfoort. His father Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan was a primary school teacher at the Christian Reformed Church in Amersfort, his mother's name was Johanna Christina de Kok. At the age of 14, Piet received his first drawing lessons from his father and his uncle, the painter Frits Mondriaan. In 1889 Piet Mondrian acquired the drawing teacher diploma for elementary schools, and in 1892 the diploma for secondary schools. Piet Mondrian decided to become a painter and began studying at the Amsterdam Art Academy in 1892. He studied there for two years and then earned his living through portraiture and other commissions. He continued to attend evening courses at the academy until 1897. He opened his first exhibition at “Arti et Amicitae” in 1897. In 1898 his friendship with Albert P. van den Briel began. In 1901 he traveled to Spain with his friend Simon Maris and in 1903 to North Brabant, where he liked it so much that he moved there in 1904. In 1906 he returned to Amsterdam and painted landscapes in the surrounding area, especially along the Gein River. The works of Picasso, Braque and Cezanne greatly impressed Piet Mondrian. In 1915 Piet Mondrian met the philosopher Dr. MHJSchoenemaekers and with Theo van Doesburg and Bart van der Leck. Mondrian begins his journalistic work. In 1919 Piet Mondrian returned to Paris. From 1921, Mondrian limited his palette to the colors red, yellow and blue as well as black, white and gray. On February 1, 1944, Piet Mondrian died of pneumonia at the age of almost 72.