Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)

Born in Holland, Mondrian is a major artist of the 20th century, recognized as one of the pioneers of abstraction and the inventor of neoplasticism. Piet Mondrian began by painting realistic pictures before moving towards more abstract forms close to Fauvism and Cubism, his palette was then reduced to pure colours. Mondrian seeks purity in his compositions, the only way for him to "achieve pure beauty". From then on, his works developed mainly around two principles essential to him, the horizontal and the vertical. Mondrian participated with the Dutch painter Theo Van Doesburg and other artists in the creation of the Stijl magazine, where he published numerous theoretical articles on his artistic approach and the new plastic that he intends to create. It is in New York that Mondrian finished his life, exalted by the New York life the painter will create his most famous compositions inspired by jazz and the rhythms of boogie-woogie. Mondrian's legacy now shines through in every arts form, from architecture to decorative arts and fashion, as witnessed by Yves Saint Laurent's tribute to the artist with his collection of Mondrian dresses, using the painter's primary colour grid.