How did Piet Mondrian’s Calvinist background influence his search for purity in art?

Piet Mondrian’s search for purity in art was deeply rooted in the strict puritan tradition of Dutch Calvinism, which instilled in him a lifelong commitment to clarity and discipline. This background influenced his artistic philosophy, where he sought to move beyond the arbitrary, casual facts of everyday life to achieve a higher, harmonious vision of reality.1

Mondrian’s pursuit of this ideal is reflected in the double meaning of the Dutch word schoon, which signifies both "clean" and "beautiful". By adopting a rigid language of straight lines and pure primary colors—a style he termed neoplasticism—he aimed to produce an extreme level of purity. This approach was not merely aesthetic; it carried ethical significance, as he believed that art could serve as a guide to humanity, offering a Utopia of superb clarity. Through this process, Mondrian rejected personal temperament and momentary visual perceptions, instead using geometry and color to convey a spiritual message about the universal harmony of the universe.12