The artwork “Lighthouse in Westkapelle” was created by Piet Mondrian in 1909. This piece, rendered in oil on canvas, is an exemplar of the Neo-Impressionist movement and belongs to the cityscape genre. Mondrian, widely recognized for the abstraction in his later work, here conveys his vision through impressionistic brushstrokes and vibrant color, giving us a glimpse into the earlier stages of his artistic journey.
The artwork presents the viewer with a somewhat abstracted representation of a lighthouse, the central figure against a backdrop that may suggest a sky speckled with clouds. The lighthouse stands tall, rendered in warmer hues that contrast dramatically with the cooler tones of the background, which is dominated by blues. The brushwork is loose yet deliberate, featuring dabs and strokes that coalesce to form the visual structure of the lighthouse and sky. This impasto technique, characterized by a visible texture imparted by the thick application of paint, gives the artwork a dynamic, almost tactile quality.
The choice of color palette, favoring oranges and yellows for the lighthouse against the blue of the sky, creates a complementary contrast, typical of the Neo-Impressionist fascination with the interplay of light and color. The composition of the artwork, while rooted in the tangible subject matter of a cityscape, delivers an interpretation that is more concerned with the sensation of the scene rather than its realistic depiction. Mondrian’s application of oil paint imbues the scene with an energetic vibrancy that reflects the principles of Neo-Impressionism, which often sought to capture the essence of a moment through color and light.
