Irrigation ditch with wood gate at left 1894 - 1895

Here is a landscape scene painted by Piet Mondrian using oil on canvas. Mondrian’s loaded brushstrokes capture the rural landscape with a heavy impasto technique, as you can almost feel the weight and texture of the pigment. The brushstrokes in the sky show the hand of the artist, with strokes applied in multiple directions, while the landscape and stream are rendered with more horizontal marks. Mondrian's technique emphasizes the materiality of paint, bringing the image to life through its physical presence. You can almost see him working. Mondrian's choice of subject matter adds a social dimension. Rural landscapes like this one reflected a connection to nature and agrarian life, a contrast to the industrializing cities of Europe. The painting evokes a sense of labor, suggesting a life lived in close proximity to nature. It's a reminder that even paintings can be understood through the lens of labor, production, and materials.