Composition in Red, Blue, and Yellow

Composition in Red, Blue, and Yellow is a seminal oil on canvas painting created by Piet Mondrian in 1937. This highly influential work exemplifies the Dutch artist's mature style, defined by the strict geometric principles of Neoplasticism, a movement he pioneered. Mondrian limited his palette to the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) and the non-colors (black and white), applying thick, precise bands of black paint to delineate the intersecting horizontal and vertical lines that structure the piece.

Dating from the productive period of 1937–42, this canvas represents the culmination of Mondrian's quest for universal harmony through abstract forms. The arrangement is deliberately asymmetrical yet balanced, reflecting the artist’s belief that pure plastic art could express fundamental truths without relying on representational subject matter. The subtle variations in the size and proportion of the colored rectangles, juxtaposed against the white ground, generate a dynamic rhythm across the flat surface. Unlike earlier works, where line widths sometimes varied, the composition here exhibits remarkable consistency in its deployment of the pictorial elements.

As an innovator within the De Stijl group and a significant figure in 20th-century modernism, Mondrian fundamentally altered the course of painting. His influence stretched from architecture and design to graphic arts. This particular work, dating from his later years, showcases the refined aesthetic purity that defines his best-known achievements. The painting, a key example of the Dutch contribution to abstract art, is proudly held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where it serves as a crucial reference point for scholars studying the development of abstraction. Reproductions and prints of this modernist icon are highly sought after by art enthusiasts globally.