Mondria(a)n, en route to New York

From straight lines to rhythm: Mondrian in New York

While Piet Mondrian contemplates and reconsiders his compositions, in which the thickness of a line has a decisive impact on the entire painting, the Second World War casts its shadow before him. Despite Mondrian's awareness of the impending danger, he hesitates and postpones his intended departure for New York to continue working on his paintings. At the same time, he continues to hope for a positive outcome. Only when the ground becomes too hot for him does he impulsively depart. But then bureaucracy makes it difficult for him to travel to New York. After arriving in New York, the once-characteristic black lines and planes of primary colors disappear from his paintings, making way for the rhythm of his new surroundings. Despite the dark times, Mondrian seems to free himself from his self-imposed dogmas and renews himself by creating seemingly more playful compositions.