Piet Mondrian – famous interview

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was a Dutch painter and one of the pioneers of abstract art. He developed a distinctive style based on a grid of black lines and primary colours, which he called neoplasticism. His work had a profound influence on modern art and design.

In 1926 Piet Mondrian was interviewed in his studio in the Rue du Depart in Paris by Paul-Gustave van Hecke, a Belgian writer and art critic. He was working for the Flemish newspaper “Het Overzicht.” Paul-Gustave was interested in discussing Mondrian’s work and the ideas behind the neoplasticism movement. But Mondrian was very reluctant to discuss his work, he wanted instead to talk about the political climate in his own country, The Netherlands. In particular his country’s banning of the new dance craze the Charleston.

Mondrian was deeply concerned about the conservative political climate in the Netherlands at the time, which he saw as a threat to artistic freedom and innovation. The ban on the Charleston dance, he believed, was just another example the battle between art and society. He believed artists should for artists to be free to experiment and explore new ideas without censorship or restriction from the state.

There doesn’t seem to have been an interview published as a result of Paul-Gustave’s meeting with Piet Mondrian.

Check out my video below for more information.

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