Horizontal Tree
- Original dimensions
- 112.2 x 75.9 cm
- Museum
- Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute
- Year
- 1911
Scene depicted
Horizontal Tree depicts a peaceful scene where geometric shapes meet, interwoven with bright colors and black lines, creating a bold dialogue between the abstract and the observable. The composition reveals a majestic tree, whose branches seem to stretch towards the sky in a gesture of aspiration, capturing the essence of nature beyond the visible.
Historical context
Year: 1911 |BRK| Museum: Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute |BRK| Dimensions: 112.2 x 75.9 cm
Place in the artist's career
A pivot in Mondrian's career, Horizontal Tree represents a key step before reaching stylistic heights with his later works. It juxtaposes with other iconic paintings like “Composition in Red, Blue, and Yellow” and “Broadway Boogie Woogie,” illustrating a technical evolution towards pure abstraction and an increasing mastery of lines and colors.
Anecdote
Inspired by a tranquil sunny morning, Mondrian once declared: “The true essence of art is harmony, revealed by nature itself.” It was while strolling in an urban park that the idea for this painting came to him, thus translating a vision of nature through striking abstraction.