Chrysanthemum (recto) and Head in Profile (verso) by Piet Mondrian is a double-sided drawing executed in charcoal on paper in 1906. This insightful work captures the artist during a crucial period of transition in his early Dutch career, preceding his dramatic embrace of geometric abstraction later in the decade. The use of charcoal lends itself to dramatic effects, emphasizing light and shadow while highlighting Mondrian’s foundational skills in academic draftsmanship.
The recto features a closely observed study of a wilting chrysanthemum blossom. Mondrian utilizes the charcoal medium masterfully to build deep tonal contrasts and rich textures, meticulously capturing the complex, fragile structure of the flower as it passes its peak bloom. The chrysanthemum was a favored subject in the Symbolist tradition, which heavily influenced the artist around 1906, allowing him to explore themes of organic vitality, decay, and the expressive nature of form. The handling of the medium is intense and emotive, characteristic of the expressive, figurative work Mondrian produced before his move toward Luminism.
The verso contains a separate figurative study, titled Head in Profile. Sketched rapidly with looser, more economical lines, this figure contrasts sharply with the detailed rendering of the flower on the opposite side. The presence of two disparate subjects on a single sheet of paper indicates that the work served as a preparatory sketch or a practice sheet, common for artists focusing on maximizing material usage.
While Mondrian is globally renowned for his austere, non-representational grid compositions, drawings such as this offer vital insight into the technical prowess and deep connection to natural forms that underpinned his revolutionary career. This important example of early modern art from 1906 resides within the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), documenting the origins of one of the 20th century's most influential artists. Scholars often utilize high-quality prints of such works to study the evolution of the master’s technique.
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