In 2022, Amersfoort will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Piet Mondrian's birth. Not only the Mondrian House, but also various other cultural institutions and companies are organising activities in connection with this anniversary. Hoveniersbedrijf 't Hofland and sierbestrating D' Ouwe Steen, for example, recently realised a special flower bed on the edge of Amersfoort's city centre to honour the master of abstract art.
Piet Mondrian (1872 - 1944) is best known as a pioneer of abstract art. However, he only started experimenting in this style around the age of 40, after leaving for Paris. Before then, he painted realistic scenes in which nature played a leading role.
Early in his career, but also still in his abstract period, Mondrian regularly painted flowers. Usually a single flower, such as a chrysanthemum or an amaryllis, central to the composition. The general view is that Mondrian made the flowers because there was a market for them, but given the great quality of these works, he must have enjoyed making them too.
Mondrian's florals and his famous abstract work now come together beautifully in a flower bed along the Stadsring (off City Hall) in Amersfoort.
On Friday 20 May, the Mondrian bed was opened by Amersfoort alderman Fatma Koser Kaya and director Paul Baltus of the Mondrian House. The flowerbed was laid out by Hoveniersbedrijf 't Hofland and sierbestrating D' Ouwe Steen. Made possible by the municipality of Amersfoort.