Woods near Oele 1908

Piet Mondrian made Woods near Oele with oil on canvas, though the exact date of completion is unknown. Look closely at how Mondrian uses vertical marks to create this forest! This painting is all about process; it's like watching Mondrian think through paint. The way he builds up these layers, you can almost feel the push and pull of his brush. It's pretty cool, right? The colors here aren't what you'd expect from a forest, are they? Deep purples, oranges, and blues mingle to create a strange kind of light. Check out the foreground with its horizontal lines of color, how do they relate to the verticality of the trunks? When I look at this work, I'm reminded of Van Gogh's expressive brushwork, but also his interest in natural forms. Art's always a conversation, never a solo act.