Description
The work "Molino in the afternoon" by Piet Mondrian, made in 1905, is a significant example of the artist's transition to the visual language that would later define it as one of the great masters of abstract art. Mondrian, known for his connection with the STIJL movement, before completely embraceing the abstraction, experimented with more figurative landscapes and compositions that show their admiration for the nature and rural life of the Netherlands.
In "Molino in the afternoon", Mondrian presents a mill, emblematic of the Dutch culture, which stands in a landscape marked by a rudimentary geometry. At first glance, the work is characterized by its sober color palette, where earthly tones such as brown, gray and green that transmit a feeling of calm and simplicity predominate. These colors, although modest compared to the use of primary ones that would adopt later, contribute to the melancholic atmosphere of the afternoon, suggesting the transition from day to night.
The composition reveals a well -planned structure in which the mill is erected in the center of the painting, Surrounded by a landscape that seems to be divided into segments that remind the architecture of a plot that is in abstract painting. The arrangement of the elements is based on horizontal and vertical lines that, however, are not strictly rigid, suggesting a more organic connection with the mill environment than with the future concept of pure abstraction.
One of the most notable characteristics of this work is the way Mondrian uses light. The luminosity in the paint is subtle, creating a contrast between the shadow and the light that highlights the volumetry of the mill, as well as the profile of the trees subtly drawn in the distance. This attention to light and atmosphere evokes a sense of time, as if the viewer could almost feel the soft afternoon breeze.
Although there are no visible human figures in painting, the presence of the mill and the landscape suggests an implicit relationship with rural life and the economy of the environment, issues that Mondrian explored in several previous works. This intentional absence of people can be interpreted as a way to universalize the sense of belonging and connection with the natural space, an aspect that Mondria would explore even more in their evolution towards abstract art.
In the context of Mondrian's trajectory, "Molino in the afternoon" can be considered an intermediate step that reflects its search for the essence of life through simplification and reduction of visual elements. This work not only finds its place in art history as a representation of the Dutch culture, but it is also a premonition of the path that Mondrian would take towards the aesthetic redemption of the form and color in modern art.
The painting is aligned with other works of the same era where Mondrian also explored the relationship between natural life and geometry, such as "red tree" or "landscape with mill." In conclusion, "Molino in the afternoon" is a painting That not only offers an introspective vision of Dutch rurality at the beginning of the 20th century, but also anticipates the development of a visual language that would redefine the art of the twentieth century and beyond. The work serves as a testimony of Mondrian's mastery and its ability to capture beauty in simplicity, a concept that would continue to be central to its subsequent work.
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