Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian was an artist from the Netherlands. He was born in 1872 and became one of the most famous painters of modern art. At first, he painted trees and landscapes. Later, he made paintings using only straight lines and a few colors. His style is known around the world.

His Famous Style

Mondrian made paintings with black lines and white spaces. He filled some of the boxes with red, yellow, or blue. He believed simple shapes and colors could show beauty. This kind of art is called abstract art. Today people still copy his style on clothes and buildings.

His Life

Mondrian lived in the Netherlands, France, England, and the United States. He loved music, especially jazz. He once made a painting called Broadway Boogie Woogie about New York City. He kept painting until he died in 1944. His art helped change how people think about pictures.

Fun Facts

• Mondrian loved to dance and often went to jazz clubs.
• He only used five colors in his famous paintings: red, yellow, blue, black, and white.
• He changed his name from Pieter Mondriaan to Piet Mondrian.

Did You Know?

A fashion designer named Yves Saint Laurent made dresses that looked just like Mondrian's paintings in 1965.