Oostzijdse Mill with Panoramic Sunset and Brightly Reflected Colours

Oostzijdse Mill with Panoramic Sunset and Brightly Reflected Colours was completed in around 1907/1908 and shows an artist experimenting with colour on a theme that he was very familiar with.

This was an artist who adored his local landscape - inspiring much of his early work. Trees, rivers and windmills appeared in many paintings of this period in which he was committed to more traditional art styles, perhaps unaware that he would eventually develop into a fully fledged abstract artist who would promote new movements across Europe. That said, most artists have gone through a similar path of discovery, where their students days have given them a well-rounded understanding of historical art styles, before they then later develop their own, unique path.

Oostzijdse Mill remains an historic landmark in Abcoude, Netherlands and lies on the Gein river. It is a popular local tourist spot partly because of its beauty, but also because of its fame for featuring in a number of famous artworks, including the one found here. Mondrian himself produced at least four paintings of the mill and, no doubt, would also have created a number of sketches from different angles so that some paintings could be produced back in the comfort of his own studio. Even today we find young artists regularly sitting around the building, making sketches of their own, no doubt inspired by paintings such as this one. This piece measures 142cm wide, and around one metre tall, making one of his larger landscape artworks. The mill itself also appeared in Oostzijdse Mill in Moonlight, Oostzijdse Mill with Extended Blue, Yellow and Purple Sky and Oostzijdse Mill along the River Gein by Moonlight.