"Composition No.8" by Piet Mondriaan - 1913

Jan Toorop, artist and friend of Piet Mondriaan, spoke about cubism as a 'striving for abstraction', a striving 'more and more towards spirituality', away from forms of nature. But Mondriaan saw something completely different, an opening into something new.
Mondriaan came to the conclusion he had to go to Paris if he wanted to know more. He needed direct contact with the Cubists, to achieve a kind of work in which he could accomplish his own ideas.

In 1911 he ends his rent-contract, broke up his engagement and stores his paintings with acquaintances and friends, sells as much work as possible and leaves the community of Amsterdam. At the end of January 1912 he moved to Paris. His famous oilpainting 'No.8' was made the following year. (Text source: In new perspective / Hans Janssen)

Painting No.4 / Composition No.8
Piet Mondriaan [1872-1944]
height 95 cm width 80 cm
1913 - oil on canvas
Location: Gemeentemuseum Denhaag: 0334317

http://www.gemeentemuseum.nl/en/collection/item/1042

"La-roche-guyon" by Georges Braque - 1909

“The subject is not the object; it is the unity, the lyricism which stems entirely from the means employed.”

> quote Georges Braque/Thoughts on Painting

Style: Analytical Cubism  - Technique: oil on canvas - Dimensions: 92 x 73 cm
Location: Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands

"The Fall of the Damned" by Peter Paul Rubens - 1620

Peter Paul Rubens, a painter and draftsman from Antwerp, was the most important and celebrated 17-century artist from Northern Europe. His influence was particularly strong. From 1620 onwards the so-called ‘high baroque’ (maniera grande) was introduced in his work.

“The Fall of the Damned” is such a highly dramatic and monumental religious painting. It features a jumble of the bodies of the damned, hurled into abyss by archangel Michael and accompanying angels.

The sketch of The Fall of the Damned was made in black and red chalks, with a grey wash and is kept in the British Museum. It is assumed to be the work of a studio assistant, while Rubens then went over the drawing with brush and oil colour.

At the lower edges, a monk is pulled down, gnawed by demons. Above him, a huge woman is carried on the back of another devil, his tail wrapped around her legs. At all angles, twisting and turning, these unfortunate souls stare up in terror at their terrible fates, or cover their heads in shame. No need to tell that this painting impressed the viewer…

 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pd/p/rubens,_fall_of_the_damned.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_of_the_Damned