The Modern Art Beach

'View from the Dunes with Beach and Piers, Domburg'

This painting, by Piet Mondrian, was done all the way back in 1909, which explains why there is the slightest bit of a recognizable subject, as opposed to the complete randomness which would become favored later on by him and others.

The funniest part of this unappealing clash of colors is that it would probably be considered too realistic and traditional to be hip enough for today's art world.

That being said, the colors used betray a dismal and nauseating view of the world. Anything remotely aesthetically pleasing is avoided. He lived in the Netherlands during this time I believe, and maybe the bleak weather there just got to him.

A beach is usually a scene of happiness, leisure, and escape for humans, which makes it all the more striking that Mondrian portrays it in this manner. You get the sense that he did this with no hope for humanity in mind, and only a surrender to vague nihilism to comfort.

Apparently he was into all sorts of crazy spiritual naturalism and theology, from what Ive read. It seems reality was as unclear to him as he paints it. It's amazing how art always shows the true nature of the artist and those who identify with it. Only delusional, out of focus people could get something positive from this piece.

For the rest of us, it is only interesting and valuable in the sense that it allows us to peer into the psyche of a man in a certain time and place, and by extension learn about what might have been a general view of things for a culture, either consciously or unconsciously.

It never surprises me to see this kind of art coming out of Europe in the lead up to World War I. Pieces like this show how the views of men were distorted, unhappy, and anti-rational, and this kind of general mindset among a culture will always lead to great destruction and suffering.

We will take a look at more of Piet Mondrian's work later on, when he becomes part of the "let's paint shapes!" movement.