The more artists biographies I read, the more I think enjoyment of them is more dependent on the biographer than the subject.

I’m not a particular fan of Mondrian’s art (though I certainly don’t dislike it), yet I felt like I got more out of this than I gave out of other books like it focused on artists whose work I am more fond of.

Nicholas Fox Weber does a tremendously good job of blending narrative nonfiction with art theory here, and manages to make the artist as intriguing as the art. He doesn’t spend a lot of time mired in biographical incidentals (this book is mercifully short on banal child prodigy mythology), and instead focuses on personal details about the artist that are directly relevant to his work and career.

This is long, but it doesn’t feel like it is while reading it, as it flows well and doesn’t wander off into anecdotal content that doesn’t contribute to the broader narrative.

Born in the Netherlands in 1872, Mondrian grew up with and was trained by his stern Calvinist father, who saw visual art as a conduit to the realm of God. His teachings inspired young Mondrian to draw and paint, talents he put to use soon after he received his certificate to formally teach, where he located as an independent, working artist in Amsterdam and Paris. As he grew older, Mondrian’s style, which was more traditional early on in his career, matured due to his fascination with Theosophy, Impressionism, and Cubism. These enthusiasms led to his foray into painting geometric shapes (primarily squares), impeccably produced straight lines, and a color palette. Some, like Weber, see these pictures as vibrant and alive, while others see them as diametrical, dull, and lifeless.

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DOUG

Piet Mondrian’s iconic blocks of primary colors and sharp black lines are instantly recognizable. But understanding the man behind the art? That’s where Nicholas Fox Weber’s biography, "Mondrian: His Life, His Art, His Quest for the Absolute," comes in, offering a complex, engaging look into Mondrian’s journey from the Dutch countryside to the Paris avant-garde scene and eventually to New York.

Weber details the early influence of young Mondriaan's Calvinist upbringing and his uncle’s traditional landscapes on his early artistic development. Mondrian’s path wasn’t just about discovering new techniques—it was about pushing boundaries and eventually rejecting them entirely. By embracing abstraction and seeking “the absolute,” Mondrian was redefining art, aiming to distill reality into its purest form through geometry and primary colors.

I enjoyed reading how idiosyncratic Mondrian was: the man famous for minimalist lines and colors was also a ballroom dancing enthusiast and a loner. And the author sometimes ventures into speculative territory—such as whether the rigid order of his childhood home influenced his later style. But it's interesting, nonetheless.

One thing to note for casual readers: at over 650 pages, this biography is no quick read. And there are very few images in the book—somewhat surprising for a biography of a visual artist.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This author tried much to hard to connect everything that happened in Mondrian's life to his painting -- sometimes, historic events and situations just happen and don't always result in some magic moment. Good information, however.

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this work that looks at the life, art and influences of one of the great artists of the 20th century.

Growing up my family was not that interested in art. Our walls had more family photos and knitted works that my mother had created, rather than paintings or drawings. My brother and I loved cartoons, cartoonists, and comic books. Old Masters were more Jack Kirby and Bill Everett, if I thought about it. My aunt on the other hand constantly visited museums and galleries, had works on her wall that made one question her sanity, and a library of art books that I would flip through, but not pay much attention too. That changed when I read of all things a mystery by Lawrence Block, part of his Bernie Rhodenbarr series, The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian. The book was full of information and asides about art, and being one who hated not understanding things, I asked my aunt who was this guy, and why was his art so important. My aunt had probably been waiting for this moment all her life, and proceed to school me in what she knew. As a person always interested in creativity of any kind, I took more to the stories, and the lives of the artists, what made them tick, and what made their art click. Over the years I have read many biographies of artists, but was also surprised to see that there had never been a real study of the works of Piet Mondrian. And after reading this, I know my Aunt would have enjoyed this as much as I have. Mondrian: His Life, His Art, His Quest for the Absolute is by noted art historian and writer Nicholas Fox Weber, and looks at the artists life in full, studying his upbringing, influences, controversies, and the works themselves.

Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan was born in 1872 in Amersfort a part of the Netherlands. Pieters'a father was a strict Protestant who had been appointed a school teacher first in one district, and then further away near the German border after changes were made in the educational system. Even as a child Pieter was a little distant from his brothers, a introvert in a way that he liked to keep things his way, in a fixed order. The author speculates that some of the design of the house might have imprinted in young Pieter's mind, something that would show up later. Pieter showed an interest and skill in art, which his father, strict in many ways, nurtured. Instructing young Pieter, was an Uncle who was successful both in business and the art world, known for his paintings that many a family would commission for their homes. Pushed to enter the teaching profession, Pieter passed the rigorous instructions to teach art, though at one point he did fail basic anatomy, something that bothered him. Piet began in landscapes, but soon moved onto abstract art, coinciding with his new thoughts on religion and spiritualism. Thoughts that slowly began to influence his art in many different ways.

A book that is both well researched and well-written. Weber has done an exceptional job of bringing together small facts, and making connections in ways that really bring the influences of this artist to life. Weber has an interesting style, keeping the narrative flowing and never getting bogged down. There are many things that could be considered speculative, such as the windows in his house being more of an influence in Mondrian's later work, but Weber presents it so well, one has a problem believing this. Weber looks at everything, from the break with his uncle in their art styles, making young Piet drop a letter from his name so that no would could confuse the two as being related. One that bothered the artist for years. A few controversies, and finally coming to America, all of this is written both sympathetically and factually, with problems and difficulties addressed. A book that is just as much about creativity as it is about the man and the art.

Recommended for art fans, and for readers who enjoy big books about larger than life people. Also for people, like myself who love to read who artists are both inspired, learn to create, and how they keep that fire to create going.

Mondrian by Nicholas Fox Weber
Is an extremely detailed biography of the artist Piet Mondrian. It seems to be aimed at an academic audience, and may seem a bit tedious to the casual art enthusiast. I was disappointed by the lack of pictures in this book. When I read a book about an artist, I enjoy seeing his work in addition to learning about his life.

This book was clearly well-researched and is very informative.

Thank you to Knopf for providing me an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Following is the review I posted on Goodreads:

I have been a fan of Piet Mondrian's art ever since seeing some of his amazing work at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam 10 years ago. I was so impressed at how he first painted windmills and landscapes, especially trees, in Monet's Impressionistic fashion, but he later was influenced by Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. I just found it fascinating how his work gradually incorporated more Cubism, Pointillism and modernism, focusing on more abstract and linear techniques. His abstract/modernist view was to show the underlying basis of basic things, later developing into the famous lines and primary color palettes for which is he most famous. Mondrian also was a prolific writer and very witty. Like me, I think he was an outgoing introvert (yes, I know that may seem like an oxymoron). Rene Magritte is my favorite artist, but I definitely appreciate Mondrian's style.

"Mondrian: His Life, His Art, and the Quest of the Absolute," is a very thorough and detailed biography, from his childhood all the way to his move to New York City, where he finally found his greatest success. I think Nicholas Fox Weber did excellent research and made thoughtful observations. This paragraph, in particular, I think really summed up Mondrian's outlook:

"Mondrian's life, more than most people's, was based on repetition with variation: in his painting, his writing, the place he lived, the meals he ate. The underlying constant was his rock-solid foundation of appreciation for what he had."

The reason I only gave four stars to Weber's book is because it reads more like a textbook than a biography aimed at a mass audience. Since I received an ARC of the book, perhaps that is the intention. I don't know. My favorite section was the last part of the book, in which Mondrian's benefactor and friend, Harry Holtzman, helped Mondrian move to the U.S., paid for his room and board and helped him eventually get U.S. citizenship. Interestingly, Holtzman, also an artist, had a similar style to Mondrian's -- perhaps that was from Mondrian's influence?

Weber's book has few photos, and none of the artist's work -- I would have liked photos of some of his paintings included (perhaps because of copyright infringement?), especially to show context alongside the text. The book had over 10,000 pages on my Kindle app, so yes, it was a large amount of copy to read. Most of the book was interesting, but I think the reader must have an appreciation for the artist and his work -- or at least be interested in learning about him -- to fully enjoy it.

Thanks to Knopf Books and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC to review this book.