Ambiguous Space

Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow

By Piet Mondria(a)n 

Does the piece exhibit symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial balance?

This artwork definitely does not have symmetrical balance because one half is not similar to the other half.  It also does not have radial balance because the shapes and lines do not start at the middle of the art piece and radiate out in a circular fashion. So this is asymmetrical. 

Where is the focal point?

I would say that there is no focal point because there is no particular spot where the artwork begins. 

Explain how the artist is using space.

Mondrian is using space very well. The way the shapes correlate to the black lines is very distinct because the weight carried by the colored shapes is balanced by the thickness of the lines. The positive space in this art piece are the colored shapes and the black lines. The negative space is the white. Shape plays a big role in this composition. I would say that this composition is flat as well as it has depth. Flat because it does not have shading or any particular structure. Depth because the use of edges and overlap of lines is very smooth and blends in amazingly. 

What kinds of Gestalts principles are at play here?

The Gestalts principles being used in this composition are similarity and figure/ground. I see similarity because the shapes are all the same; they are rectangles. I also see figure/ground because the contrast in color of the colored shapes show more then the ones that are white. 

What are the strengths of this composition? 

This artwork was done back in time where electricity was not invented and straight edges were hard to find. So the crisp, straight lines and shapes really bring the art piece to life. The greatest strength of this composition is the color. Piet used the red, blue, and yellow really precisely and accurately.

Research on this artist..

• Piet Mondriaan was born on March 7, 1872 in Amersfoort, Netherlands.
• He was Dutch.
• He was greatly influenced by Pablo Picasso.
• His greatest composition was Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow in 1930 in New York. 
• After the created of his greatest composition, he started to enhance and add more lines and shapes to it.
• He died of pneumonia on February 1, 1944 in Manhattan, New York, US. (He was 77 years old)
• His funeral was attended by over 200 people the next day. He is currently buried at Universal Chapel on Lexington Ave. 

Piet Mondria(a)n

First Picture URL: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vLJGSAXQsNw/TaRHmCVcrI/AAAAAAAAAA8/4e8uhYzMbfs/s1600/mondrian_comp_rgb.jpg

Second Picture URL:http://rupo.ru/i/msg_i/2982/mondrian-foto.jpg