Mondrian #4, 1938-42, Saint Louis Art Museum 2001

Curator: This is Bronlyn Jones' "Mondrian #4," dating from 1938-42, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a blueprint of a building still in the architect's mind. Almost meditative in its restraint. Curator: Indeed. Jones engages with the legacy of Mondrian, though the pencil lines and visible erasures hint at process over pure geometric form. The social function of art was evolving. Editor: The imperfection is what grabs me. It feels more human than a pristine reproduction. Like a whispered secret about the struggle of creation. Curator: Post-war art saw a rise in process-based work, making visible the artist's hand, but Jones's connection to the Saint Louis Art Museum adds another layer. Editor: So, more than just lines on paper. It's a document of a time, a place, a conversation. Curator: Precisely. Bronlyn Jones gives us a glimpse into what art can reveal about its context. Editor: I'm going to hold onto that "whispered secret." Always listen closely.