Flowers Sun 1909

Piet Mondrian made this painting, Flowers Sun, with oil on canvas. Mondrian uses a loose painterly style, with visible brushstrokes creating texture and depth. The flowers are not rendered in precise detail, but rather with broad strokes of white and cream, contrasting with the cool blue background. The materiality of the oil paint is essential here. The thick application of paint gives the petals a tangible, almost sculptural quality. The way Mondrian layers the paint creates subtle gradations of light and shadow. Note that despite the softness of the subject matter, there's nothing delicate about the way this has been made. It’s robust, determined. Although seemingly a simple still life, the painting reflects Mondrian's engagement with both traditional art forms and his movement towards abstraction. We often think of this artist as a pioneer of geometric composition, so it is striking to see him working in a more traditional vein. Ultimately, by considering his process, we recognize his enduring concern with the elemental components of painting.