Tableau I 1921

Piet Mondrian made this painting, Tableau I, using oil paint on canvas. The rectangles and lines are so elemental, it may be hard to think about them in terms of labor, but Mondrian’s process was painstaking. He applied the paint evenly, eliminating all traces of brushwork. The surface is smooth and considered, each color carefully chosen and placed to create a sense of balance and harmony. The black lines aren't merely boundaries; they're active participants, defining and shaping the composition. Although the imagery might appear machine-made, Mondrian’s hand is evident. The human element is not something to be overlooked. Tableau I exists as a testament to the transformative potential of abstraction and the deceptively simple act of putting paint on canvas. It encourages us to look beyond the surface, to consider the artist's labor, and to appreciate the profound impact of material and process.