Victory Boogie Woogie

Pioneer

Piet Mondrian (Amersfoort, 1872 – New York, 1944) is a pioneer of abstract art. His body of work reflects his journey from figuration to abstraction. His later geometric-abstract paintings, characterized by horizontal and vertical lines and primary color planes in red, yellow, and blue, are world-famous. Victory Boogie Woogie (1942–44) is his final work — an icon of the modern era and of the freedom of abstract art. The painting marks the culmination of one of the 20th century’s most important artists and stands as the undisputed centerpiece of Kunstmuseum The Hague’s Mondrian collection.

In 1940, Mondrian arrived in the United States. In vibrant New York, his friend Harry Holzman welcomed him immediately. That very same day, Holzman introduced Mondrian to boogie-woogie music. Although Mondrian was already familiar with ragtime and jazz, he was completely overwhelmed when he first heard it. “Enormous, enormous!!” he kept exclaiming — as if the music transcended the limits of space itself. Despite his age, he spent countless nights dancing to this music with friends. He even created two paintings with Boogie Woogie in the title. One of them, Victory Boogie Woogie, is part of Kunstmuseum The Hague’s collection.

Music

In 1940, Mondriaan arrived in the United States. In vibrant New York, his friend Harry Holzman welcomed him immediately. That very same day, Holzman introduced Mondriaan to boogie-woogie music. Although Mondriaan was already familiar with ragtime and jazz, he was completely overwhelmed when he first heard it. “Enormous, enormous!!” he kept exclaiming — as if the music transcended the limits of space itself. Despite his age, he spent countless nights dancing to this music with friends. He even created two paintings with Boogie Woogie in the title. One of them, Victory Boogie Woogie, is part of Kunstmuseum The Hague’s collection.