Jeff Adams

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was a Dutch painter and an important part of what was called the De Stijl movement in twentieth century art. As his style developed, he became obsessively focused on bold horizontal and vertical lines, primary colors and lots of white. I’ve given you an example of his work, and you might even remember having seen his influence in painting or design.

Wikipedia offers this Mondrian quote explaining his outlook.

I construct lines and color combinations on a flat surface, in order to express general beauty with the utmost awareness. Nature (or, that which I see) inspires me, puts me, as with any painter, in an emotional state so that an urge comes about to make something, but I want to come as close as possible to the truth and abstract everything from that, until I reach the foundation (still just an external foundation!) of things… I believe it is possible that, through horizontal and vertical lines constructed with awareness, but not with calculation, led by high intuition, and brought to harmony and rhythm, these basic forms of beauty, supplemented if necessary by other direct lines or curves, can become a work of art, as strong as it is true.

To Mondrian, his lines were to be seen as infinite extensions connected to the greater cosmos, and for that reason he would not allow them to be put in frames. He wanted them to be appreciated as integral parts of the room itself and not just something that hung on the wall. So committed was he to the “big picture,” he would sometimes even design special furniture or other objects to be part of his exhibitions. His art influenced design and even architecture.

Christian intellectual and pastor Francis Schaeffer was an astute observer of art and artists during his long ministry to young people in Switzerland. He tells the story of one very important exhibit of Mondrian’s work by giving extreme attention to every detail so that the balance of every detail would be absolutely perfect in homage to the artist’s great eye for design and harmony. Furniture Mondrian had commissioned was also included in the exhibition room.

Finally, just the perfect arrangement was achieved and clearly highlighted the balance and beauty that would be fitting to characterize Mondrian’s work and design. There was only one significant problem. As soon as a person walked into the exhibit, Schaeffer observed that the perfect balance of elements was thrown off by the presence of people. The exhibition was striking indeed, but there was no way to fully appreciate the perfectly balanced design with anyone else in the room. The problem was not with the art, but with the crowds of people flowing in and out of the exhibition room. (I have felt this frustration before, trying to appreciate a great work of art and visually wrestling with the other spectators swirling around the space. I was surely just as frustrating to them!)

That story may sound a bit ludicrous or exaggerated to you, but it came to my mind as I was reading in Exodus the other day. God had given Moses the task of constructing the Tabernacle to divine specifications. Even though God clearly communicated the key elements of the Tabernacle, he also gave freedom to the artists to use the imagination and creativity he had given to them.

The big day eventually came when the work was finished and Gods glory was to inhabit this tent in the presence of his people. Here’s the part that struck me.

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35

Moses did everything he was supposed to do, but when the job was finished, God’s glory filled the tent and there was no room for Moses or anyone else. Later, of course, Moses would be able to enter in to communication with God in the Tabernacle following ritual purification and consecration.

I think there is an important lesson here. In our natural state we cannot stand in the presence of God’s glory. This is a thread that weaves through the entire Bible.

The message of the Bible is not that of humans trying to come up to God’s level in the hope of one day being accepted into his presence; it is the message of God coming down to our level in the Person of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, to pay the penalty for our sin and rise again from the dead on the third day. Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:21 that he who knew no sin, was made sin for us, in order that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Our God is a greater artist than Mondrian. No room for people in the perfect picture? No problem! Instead of changing the picture or the individual elements, God transforms us. He has personally dealt with our sin in the sacrifice of his own Son to offer us eternal life and righteousness so that we might indeed enter into the presence of his glory. This is good news!