Mondrian Completed

progress log

After getting another copy of the Mondrian CD and visiting the V&A Library, I am getting pretty close to finishing the Complete Mondrian. so I'll keep score here.

[29th Jan 2011] This pdf details what is left to obtain. They can be categorised as

• compositions (the real abstracts) which still exist and so can be sought
  • on public view - B192, B197, B200, B208, B212
  • in private collections - B110, B124, B160, B194, B195
  • in Wember's Malerei in unserem Jahrhundert, copy on the way - B159, B162, B163, B172, the book arrived 7th Feb
  • [note, facsimiles have been tried for B110, B124, B160, B163, B194, B195, B200, B208, B212]
• lost compositions which I have not yet attempted to reconstruct
  • B148, B149, B180, B184, B186, B202
  • B118+9, work in progress
• works for which I have images but would like a better one
  • B135, B227, B270, B271
• earlier pre-composition works of lower priority
  • B8, B23, B31, B32, B41, B43, B54, B59, B60, B64, B73, B74, B75

[30th Jan 2011] Breaking that down:

• compositions on public view
  • B192 is in flickr
  • B197 is currently on show in Paris. A great exhibition and the catalogue has filled a few gaps.
  • B200 in Museum Folkwang, Essen. There might be a colour image in Holtzman's Mondrian Portfolio, 1967. Not in the V&A Library. See here.
  • B208 the Marlborough book, Masters of the 19th and 20th Centuries , 1986, is in the V&A Library. And a Mondrian enthusiast in Tokyo is on the case for me. I think I have found a postcard of B208 ... and that has been confirmed by a new and better version from Tokyo.
  • B212 in Narodni Muzej, Belgrade. Images in Jaffé Le Tableau de Mondrian au Musée National de Beograd, 1964 and in Subotic World Masters, 1987. Not in the V&A Library. Unexpectedly found in the Paris show.
• in private collections
  • B110 - according to CR, this is on loan to the Brandenburgische Kunstsammlungen, Cottbus. March 2011, found a plausible solution with a Google trawl here.
  • B124 - the last exhibition I am aware of is Paris 1969, but it is not illustrated. I have tried a facsimile.
  • B160 - CR states that it was on loan to the Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst, Munich from 1978-88, but makes no mention of an illustration.
  • B194 - no suggestions for a colour image. Facsimile here.
  • B195 - no colour image. Found in Paris.
• arrival of Wember's Malerei in unserem Jahrhundert, should take care of B159, B162, B163, B172, the book arrived 7th Feb.
• lost compositions addressed in reconstructions
  • B118+9 - there is some confusion over which is which
  • B148 and B149 - I thought both of these were shown in colour in De Stijl but that is not so.
  • B180 - not much information available, time for a guess.
  • B184 and B186 - I've been looking for a better installation photograph to work from
  • B200 - again, still researching photographs
• seeking better, these can wait for now, B135, B227, B270, B271
• as can the earlier works, B8, B23, B31, B32, B41, B43, B54, B59, B60, B64, B73, B74, B75

[1st Feb 2011] A contact by chance from a Mondrian enthusiast in Tokyo has opened the possibility of a copy of a B208 postcard from Kyoto (the gallery would not send it outside Japan). I need to get some more contacts: [Belgrade done], Essen and Cottbus.

[27th Feb 2011] The catalogue of the Mondrian and De Stijl exhibition at the Pompidou Centre has provided missing images (B195, B197 and B212) plus improved images of many other paintings. In addition, in dismantling The Collection, I think I have found a postcard of B208, but I am still hoping for confirmation from Tokyo.

[19th Apr 2011] Confirmation on B208 received - it was posted just hours before the recent earthquake. A reproduction of B200 has also been found.

[6th Jun 2011] I'm trying to wrap up the Reconstructions so that I can self-publish a small booklet on the process. I'll go with the information I have and hope to refine the solutions over time.

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