Pointillist Dune Study, Crest at Centre

Here we find a mosaic-like approach to painting, where an artist has left large numbers of carefully placed dabs of paint that together create form and style.

This is pointilism, as outlined in the title of the piece. Mondrian was in Zeeland, most likely close to the town of Domberg. He revisited this spot many times over a number of years and considered this an ideal spot for discovering inspiration for his work. At this time he was working mainly in the genre of landscape, though depicted some local buildings too, on occasion. His bright paintings of the Zoutelande Church Facade were particularly memorable but, in truth, he was mainly here to see the long and simple seascapes which were characteristic of this part of the Netherlands. Indeed, many other modern artists from across the country would also work here during this period and it became a hive of creativity and fun for a number of like-minded young artists.

The 1909 work is oil on canvas, pushing on from his works on cardboard of the same year. The painting can be found in the extensive collection of the Gemeentemuseum in the Hague, Netherlands. They also own the very similar piece of the same year, namely Pointillist Dune Study, Crest at Right, with the remaining piece now residing in a private collection. Alongside a large number of artworks by this artist, you will also find original paintings by a number of other notable artists from the past, including the likes of Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Egon Schiele. Not all of their collection of Mondrians will necessary be on display all of the time, and so always check ahead if there is a specific piece of their collection that you wish to view.