Study for Blue Apple Tree Series 1908

This is a study for the Blue Apple Tree series by Piet Mondrian, made with oil on paper. The earthy yellows, blues, and blacks create a somber yet striking composition. The tree's structure, with its thick, dark trunk and radiating branches, dominates the canvas. Mondrian's early work explores natural forms, but already you can see an interest in reducing the tree to its essential structure. The brushstrokes, visible and deliberate, don't just depict leaves, but convey an energy, a sense of growth and reaching. This reflects early modernist concerns with the materiality of paint and the expressive potential of abstraction. Note the use of color. These aren't the natural colors of a tree, but rather hues chosen to evoke a mood and explore the interplay between them. This is not just a picture of a tree; it's an investigation into how form and color can convey deeper, more universal ideas. It represents an important step in Mondrian's journey toward pure abstraction.