The Spiritual Grid

Mondrian's grid paintings — black lines, white rectangles, and blocks of primary color — were not formal exercises but expressions of Theosophical philosophy. He held that horizontal lines stood for earth and matter, while vertical lines stood for spirit. Their crossing created a dynamic equilibrium: a visual metaphor for cosmic harmony.

He refined this system for decades. Early grids held many small rectangles and colors; over time he stripped elements away, hunting the absolute minimum needed for balance. Late paintings might show only two or three colored rectangles and a few black lines.