Compare and Contrast

For my final piece, after going through many ideas and not so many drafts, I chose to go with this 3-D type revamp. I kept the same color scheme for and layout as the original. I wanted to give it a reflective element as if the lines were reflected onto a towering building found in New York. Using the lines of color to give the appearance of such a building. I took the original as the roof and then ran the reflections down the sides to the street below. I think this gives the piece a more sense of depth while trying to stay true to the concept of the original. New piece isn't as flat and one dimensional. In a couple places on the side reflections I tried blending the colors a little, for example the yellow and blue made green.

Finished Student Work

Image PrePro

Objective Critique

Mondrian's work uses three Elements of Art, line, color, and to a degree shape. Mondrian uses the primary colors of yellow, blue, and red in straight lines either horizontal or vertical in a cross over method to give a sense of depth. These lines of color also either inadvertently or intentionally create white rectangles and squares. Maybe this was the thought behind Mondrian's painting the colored lines representing the bright lights of New York City or its busy streets and the white shapes represent the vast and great buildings and structures that occupied the city he grew to love. The color lines bring a sense of unity/harmony to a piece depicting a chaotic landscape in the real world. The vast use of the yellow line in the piece gives it a dominance or emphasis making it the focal point of the art and the first thing that you see. On the other side the occasional introduction of red and blue lines here and there create a good contrast to their overbearing yellow line mates. Though quite simplistic in its design and layout Mondrian's "New York City I" uses the Elements of Art and Principles of Design quite masterfully and elegantly in their small doses.

Subjective Critique

When I first looked at Piet Mondrian's "New York City I" I found it boring and not appealing to my artistic eye. First of all the piece seems very flat with no sense of depth or dimension. Even though the different color lines overlap in places and tries to give a sense of depth I just don't see it being pronounced enough to make it stand out. Second I understand that in this period of his artistic life Piet Mondrian ventured away from using black lines in his pieces. With the absence of these separating elements the other colors in the piece blend together more than they give a sense of originality. Lastly the theme of the lines is very symmetrical or geometric. Restricting the lines to either horizontal or vertical coupled together with the lack of depth in the piece makes it seem very flat and rigid with no sense of adventure or substance to the piece. I would like to add a three dimensional feel to the piece while keeping the same lines. Also I would like to give some depths to the lines to bring some character to them and give a little more interest to the main attraction of the piece.

Image and Basic Information

"New York City I"
By: Piet Mondrian
Oil on Canvas
1942