These photographic documents about Piet Mondriaan’s years in Amsterdam from 1900 to 1907 show a largely unknown, leisurely joyful side of the painter, especially those of the voyage to Spain.
Simon Maris (1873-1935) had been a friend of Arnold M. Gorter (1866-1933), since in 1900 Maris became a member of the artists-association St. Lucas in Amsterdam, of which my grandfather was president at the time. Piet Mondriaan (1872-1944) had already obtained his membership in 1897 and took part in all of St. Lucas’ exhibitions in the Stedelijk Museum until he left Amsterdam in 1911. Simon Maris was Gorter’s successor as president of St. Lucas in 1904. Very probably Maris and Mondriaan knew each other from the time Mondriaan’s uncle Frits Mondriaan (1853-1932) took painting lessons around 1888 at the studio of Simon’s father, the famous Willem Maris (1844-1910), in The Hague. Frits may have brought along his nephew Piet, who was already then wishing to become an artist. Frits frequently visited his brother’s family at Winterswijk at the time.
the material is divided in three sections of photographs: 1. At Simon Maris’ studio, 2. The trip to Spain, 3. About ‘t Gein.