Landscape at Loosduinen
1905
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1905
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a flat Dutch landscape with a wide sky, a few thin trees, and a small figure walking near a ditch. The ground is brown and quiet, and clouds hang low over green fields. This painting is from before Mondrian started his abstract, grid-style work. Back then, he painted nature often — about fifty landscapes a year. The dark, heavy brushwork and simple scene show he was inspired by Vincent van Gogh, especially after a big van Gogh exhibit in 1905. Look up netherlands, early 20th century to see how place and time shaped his early style. (Word count: 107)
