Textual (Textuel)

Textual (Textuel) by Piet Mondrian is a pivotal lithograph created in 1928. This Dutch print exemplifies the mature phase of the artist's foundational contribution to modern art, Neoplasticism. Mondrian sought universal harmony through the reduction of all visual elements to primary colors and non-objective forms, defined exclusively by horizontal and vertical lines. The use of the lithographic medium places this work within the context of reproducible art, suggesting Mondrian’s interest in disseminating the strict theoretical principles of the De Stijl movement to a wider audience.

As a print, the execution of this work relies on the precise, mechanical delineation achievable through lithography. Created in 1928, the piece showcases the disciplined clarity that became the hallmark of the artist's later period. While many of his most famous compositions are oil paintings, the selection of the print medium for Textual (Textuel) suggests an engagement with conceptual structure or diagrammatic layout, reinforcing the intellectual foundation behind his purely abstract aesthetic. This focus contrasts with conventional painting practices, demonstrating how Mondrian approached the print surface not merely as a decorative space, but as a site for applying rigorous formal logic.

The year 1928 saw the continuation of the Dutch master’s singular vision, focusing intently on purifying his visual vocabulary to its essence. Prints of this nature often served to propagate De Stijl’s influence throughout graphic design, architecture, and theoretical publications across Europe and beyond. While original prints remain key collectors’ items, the aesthetic principles articulated in works produced by Mondrian around 1928 are often accessible today through public domain references and scholarly studies. This lithograph, Textual (Textuel), is preserved in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it serves as a crucial document of modern European printmaking and geometric abstraction.