Piet Mondrian. Victory boogie woogie, (1942-44) in varied publications and exhibitions

Meet the "mother" of the painting. Her name is Emily. Plus a list of exhibitions and selected publications regarding Victory Boogie Woogie.

R.J. Preece (ADP)
Art Design Publicity at ADC | Tremaine Collection / Miller Co. art & design
15 March 2019 | Updated 14 January 2022
Piet Mondrian
Victory boogie woogie, (1942-44)
Oil and scotch tape on canvas
50 x 50 in. (127 x 127 cm)
Acquired 1944 from Valentine Dudensing Gallery
(A01162; D01010-24)

Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie, (1942-44), has been in the collection of Gemeentemuseum The Hague, The Netherlands since 1998. (Click the link to see a photo of the artwork.) From 1944-87, the artwork was officially based in Meriden, CT, USA.

> Also, click to see photos and information about Perle Fine’s copy of Victory Boogie Woogie, interpretation of a completed Victory Boogie Woogie, and analytical charts of the artwork. These works were exhibited in the 1947-52 Painting toward architecture exhibition. (Scroll down to the artworks list at bottom.)


OVERVIEW OF SECTIONS

A. Meet the "mother" of Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie (essay)
B. Piet Mondrian. Victory Boogie Woogie & Painting Toward Architecture
C. Photos by Louise Lawler showing Piet Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie
D. Victory Boogie Woogie in exhibitions (1944-87 focus) and varied publications




A. MEET THE "MOTHER" OF MONDRIAN’S VICTORY BOOGIE WOOGIE
Was the meeting and acquisition of VBW by Emily Hall Spreckels (later Tremaine) a spiritual, contemporary art "awakening"? Given her life and pursuits before and after, it certainly looks that way.

by R. J. Preece

Emily & Three Flags | A Boy for Meg | Marilyn Diptych | Victory Boogie Woogie

Emily & Sensation | Hirst’s £50m diamond skull | Emin’s My Bed



Emily Spreckels fashion

Photo of Emily Spreckels (later Tremaine), about 33, published in Town & Country in March 1941, around the time of what arguably would be among the most stressful periods in one’s life. Emily was in a turbulent year-long second marriage in Santa Barbara, California. (Her beloved first husband of about 11 years died in a plane crash just three years earlier.) In September 1940, she struck back against the second husband with "sensational allegations" in a high-profile divorce filing detailing alleged physical attacks— and also his alleged pro-Nazi support in California. The case was reported extensively for months. Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie was purchased just about three years later in 1944. Shortly after her quick, uncontested divorce from Adolph B. Spreckels, Jr. in Las Vegas in 1945 toward the end of WWII, her third attempt (they did not live together since August 1940), Emily then married Burton Tremaine. Over four decades until 1987, Emily and Burton’s life was filled with pursuing contemporary art.


Prior to Victory boogie woogie and from 1928-41, Emily Hall Tremaine (1908-87) was a titled social-celebrity and entrepreneurial society / literary magazine figure in earlier celebrity culture, extensively reported in the California and national media. She rose and later fell hard in the media as depicted in another of her acquired artworks, Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe diptych, now at Tate Modern, London.

It is understood that Emily became truly fascinated with Victory boogie woogie, its magic and meaning in 1944 and this was transformative. Her connection to Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie previews her deep dive into largely non-objective art, after Pop, with its spiritual aspect. As she got older in the 1970s and 1980s with periods of ill health, I imagine the work gave her comfort, situated in her New York living room. She would not part with it prior to her death.


Read more


Too often in art history, we focus too much on the artwork and the artist, and sometimes that’s about it. Art can have much more power than that. We should at times consider more the people that actually live with the artworks over long periods of time and those interactions, the artwork "living and breathing". Victory boogie woogie is one of the master works in the Netherlands, the country where I live, in a museum just 30 minutes away; the artwork’s status and celebrity are secondary to me, but an important backdrop.

For me, it’s first and foremost "Emily’s painting", her favorite, with personal significance and awakening for her. Mondrian enabled that for her.

From 1944-87, Victory boogie woogie was officially based in Meriden, CT, actually just down the road where I grew up. I only learned about this a little over a decade ago, and also about Emily’s work. For decades, I thought that the town never had any art or design of note, and you get used to that. It was kind of a town secret in c. 1980 when I was there, in a town that lost its industry, its wealth and its cultural knowledge, all very quickly.

But Emily gave the art and design motherlode there, usually mentioning "Meriden" via her extensive lending of artworks in shows internationally. She also facilitated the publication of hundreds of artworks in various media, with photo credits mentioning "Meriden" again. These town mentions were also often included with her favorite artwork, Victory boogie woogie.

For the vast majority visiting The Hague museum, Victory boogie woogie is thought of as a key painting there by Piet Mondrian, and it’s all about Mondrian. For me, the painting is in a room I call "Emily’s chapel". As I walk into the museum, through the halls, I think about her struggles, which continue today. I think about her life with publicity, to chaos, to dangerous conflict, to decades with Art, and into ill health. I think about her going in and out of Meriden, her communications through there, just down the road. I think about her impressive achievements. And with a controlled, unmoving face, I walk into Emily’s chapel and look at Victory:

I get dizzy. I see what she saw. Tears fall out of my eyes. I feel such intense joy. Sadness. And pride.

It is through Emily that I somehow developed, later in life, a deeper, almost spiritual appreciation for Art.

— R. J. Preece; artdesigncafe.com; Contributing Editor, Sculpture magazine; 20 September 2021, updated 20 October 2021.)



B. Piet Mondrian. Victory boogie woogie & Painting toward architecture

One of the big mysteries that continues today is what "represented" Victory boogie woogie in the 28+ Painting toward architecture exhibitions across America in 1947-52? Was it the artwork itself? The "oil transcription" by Perle Fine? The "interpretation" of a completed VBW by Perle Fine? Diagrams by Fine? And / or the mysterious "lecturn"? While significant research progress was made in c. 2016-18 unearthing a huge amount of material, more digging is needed. See the "current state".



C. Photos by Louise Lawler in the 1980s showing Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

Part of Lawler’s Tremaine pictures photoworks series, the following show Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie:

> Louise Lawler. Arranged by Tracy Atkinson, Director, and Gregory Hedberg, Chief Curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford CT, (1984). (Unique).

> Louise Lawler. Arranged by Tracy Atkinson, Director, and Gregory Hedberg, Chief Curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford CT, (1984). (Edition of 5 and 1 artist’s proof.)

> Louise Lawler. Page, (1984).

> Louise Lawler. Circle, mantle, diamond, (1984 / 1999).

> Louise Lawler. Diamonds, (1984 / 1989).



D.1. Piet Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie in exhibitions (focus on 1944-87)


This section is in development. For now, see the link at the bottom of this webpage.


Material status: = online
= link to more info
= completely offline


1940s

1945 - Museum of Modern Art, New York

(21 March - 13 May 1945). Piet Mondrian at Museum of Modern Art, New York.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

1946 - Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam

(6 November - 16 December 1946). Piet Mondrian herdenkstentoonstelling (Piet Mondrian memorial exhibition) at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

  • See publications section below for related documentation. (See 2019).

1947-52 - 28(+) venues, Painting toward architecture

[28(+) venues: December 1947 - June 1952]. Painting toward architecture at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT and 27(+) other venues across America.

> What was exhibited across the venues varied, including Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie, Perle Fine’s oil transciption (copy), Perle Fine’s "interpretation" of a completed VBW, and something called a "lecturn".

  • See publications section below for related documentation (including 2017 overview article).

1949 - Sidney Janis Gallery, New York

(10 October - 12 November 1949). Piet Mondrian: Paintings 1910 through 1944 at Sidney Janis Gallery, New York.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.


1950s

1950 - Museum of Modern Art, New York

(25 July - 5 November 1950). Recent acquisitions at Museum of Modern Art, New York.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

  • See publications section below for related documentation.

1953-54 - Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo

(12 December 1953 - 12 February 1954). Pieter Mondrian at Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

1958 - Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels

(17 April - 21 July 1958). 50 jaar moderne kunst at Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels, Belgium (on the occasion of the 1958 World Expo in Brussels).

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

  • See publications section below for related documentation.


1970s

1971 - Guggenheim Museum, New York

(8 October - 12 December 1971). Piet Mondrian Centennial exhibition at Guggenheim Museum, New York.

  • See publications section below for related documentation.

1978-79 - National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

(1 June 1978 - 30 July 1979). Aspects of Twentieth-century art at National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.

  • See publications section below for related documentation.

1979 - National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

(15 July - 16 September 1979). Mondrian: The Diamond Compositions at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.


1980s

1983 - Museum of Modern Art, New York

(14 July - 27 September 1983). Mondrian: New York studio compositions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

> Exhibited Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie.


The exhibition listing compiled above should largely be considered "leads" for confirmation and not necessarily "facts".


D.2. Piet Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie in publications and related documentation


For rough foreign language translations, see Google translate.


1940s

Various newspapers, magazines and other sources

(c. 1944 -). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines.

This compilation is in development. For now, see the link below.


1950s

1950 - exhibition webpage - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in Museum of Modern Art, New York show

(date unknown). Exhibition webpage for Recent acquisitions [and Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie at Museum of Modern Art, New York (25 July - 5 November 1950). [Eleven installation photos do not show Victory boogie woogie]. (Viewed 26 September 2021. Q00482).

c. 1950 - exhibition checklist - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in Museum of Modern Art, New York show

(c. 1950). Exhibition checklist for Recent acquisitions [and Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie] at Museum of Modern Art, New York. (Viewed 26 September 2021. Q00481).

1950 - two press releases - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in Museum of Modern Art, New York show

(c. July 1950). Two press releases for Recent acquisitions [and Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie] exhibition. (7 and 2 pages). Museum of Modern Art, New York. (Viewed 26 September 2021. AAA00237; Q00483).

"... Victory Boogie Woogie, his famous last work left unfinished at his death in 1944, is the culmination of a less severe and more complicated style developed after he came to N.Y. in 1941. This is lent from the Miller Company’s ’Painting toward Architecture’ Collection..." (Excerpt from above, the two-page press release.)



1958 articles

See the articles


1958 - article mention - Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Advance news agency (Brussels). (26 March 1958). U. S. and Russia will match cultures [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. The Times (San Mateo, CA), p. 40. (Viewed 14 January 2022. Q00531).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Gilmore, Eddy (presumably AP - Brussels). (29 March 1958). U.S., Russia will match cultures [regarding Brussels World’s Fair with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be in exhibition]. Carroll Daily Times Herald (Carroll, Iowa), p. 10. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00527).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Gilmore, Eddy (presumably AP - Brussels). (30 March 1958). United States and Russia to match cultures at Fair [World’s Fair, Brussels; with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be in exhibition]. Florence Morning News (Florence, South Carolina), p. 8-B. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00524).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Gilmore, Eddy (Advance news agency - Brussels). (31 March 1958). Cold War at The [Brussels World’s] Fair: U. S. and Russia will match cultures [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be in exhibition]. Greeneville Sun (Greeneville, South Carolina), p. 3. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00525).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

(Advance news agency - Brussels). (2 April 1958). U. S. and Russia head into race of cultures [at Brussels World’s Fair, with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view]. The Progress-Index (Petersburg, Virginia), p. 7. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00526).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Gilmore, Eddy (presumably AP - Brussels). (4 April 1958). Cold war at The [Brussels World’s] Fair: America and Russia will match cultures [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. The Daily Reporter (Dover, Ohio), p. 10. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00529).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.

1958 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be on view in Brussels

Gilmore, Eddy (Advance news agency - Brussels). (5 April 1958). America and Russia square off for Cold War at close range [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie to be in exhibition]. Ventura County Star-Free Press (Ventura, California), p. 11. (Viewed 3 October 2021. Q00523).

  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact local area public library.



1960s

1969 - article mention, photo

Baro, Gene. (15 February 1969). Decisive art collection [on the Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine art collection; with photo and mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in the New York dining area]. Vogue, pp. 132-41, 150, 152. (Viewed 26 September 2021. K01215-16).

"... Do the Tremaines always agree? They are tolerant of their differences, indulgent of one another’s enthusiasms. ’Personally, I don’t see it,’ Mr. Tremaine may say, deadpan, ’but Emily likes it, and she’s always right.’ In fact, these two have an exquisite sympathy that the visitor senses at once. The splendid collection represents both of them, yet is unified. It is as if it reflected a single sensibility, a single intelligence. Their give-and-take is a shared understanding." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations.


1970s

1971 - article mention

Richard, Paul. (1 September 1971). Moving into the 20th century [article about the National Gallery of Art, and discussions about acquisition of the Tremaine Collection; with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Washington Post, Style section, pp. D1, D8 (illustrated). (Updated 8 August 2021. K01206-07).

"... Though [J. Carter] Brown will not discuss it, it has been learned that he has been negotiating with [Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine] of Meriden, Conn., and New York City, whose collection of more than 300 pictures of the 20th century is among the world’s finest.

Its range is spectacularly broad. It includes such European masterpieces as ’Victory Boogie Woogie,’ Piet Mondrian’s last great work..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • Offline - see worldcat.org for possible locations.

1971 - article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in Guggenheim Museum show

Rose, Barbara. (December 1971). Mondrian: "Less is more" art [mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie and the artwork in Guggenheim exhibition]. Vogue, p. 169. (Viewed 7 November 2021. K01314).

"... During the four years he painted in New York, Mondrian had a profound impact on American art, which has grown with each passing year since his death..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations.

1973 - feature article - selected Tremaine Christmas cards in Wadsworth Atheneum show

UPI (Madison, CT). (23 December 1973). Friends get novel card from couple [with mention of Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine as senders of unique Christmas cards; with mention of selection on view in Greetings, gifts and announcements at Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT (unknown start date - 30 December 1973); with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie (at this juncture, unclear if a VBW-form Christmas card was in exhibition)]. The Hartford Courant, p. 4A. (Viewed 9 October 2021. Q00665).

"... Mr. and Mrs. Tremaine are known in the art world as the owners of Piet Mondrian’s ’Victory [Boogie] Woogie’... reproduced in many an art book and as posters...

... ’I just thought I’d do something different with our big collection of these cards by displaying them like paintings. Perhaps they can also provide Christmas card designers with inspiration,’ Mrs. Tremaine, a former graphic artist, says..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.

c. 1978 - exhibition webpage - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in National Gallery of Art show

(c. 1978). Exhibition webpage for Aspects of Twentieth-century art. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. (Viewed 19 September 2021. Q00408).


1980s


1987 - obituary

Glueck, Grace. (17 December 1987). Emily Hall Tremaine, designer and collector, dies [with mention of Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. New York Times. (Updated 20 September. K00049).

"Emily Hall Tremaine, a designer and art collector, who with her husband Burton assembled one of the outstanding American holdings of 20th-century art, died yesterday at her home in Madison, Conn. ... The Tremaine collection, which began with the purchase of Mondrian’s ’[Victory] boogie woogie’ in 1944, shortly after it left the artist’s studio, comprises more than 400 works by European and American artists..." (Excerpt from above.)





1987 articles

See the articles


1987 - article mention

G. G. (3 May 1987). A gallery of owners and their troves [with mention of Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine; with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. New York Times, p. H26. (Viewed 4 September 2021. Q00255).

"Every museum has a shopping list, not only of the works it wants, but of the collectors who might be persuaded to provide them...

... Emily and Burton Tremaine, New York. Treasures such as Mondrian’s ’Victory Boogie Woogie’, a tondo painting by Robert Delaunay, and works by Pablo Picasso, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Jasper Johns share billing with works by younger artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations, or contact area public library.

1987 - obituary - Emily passes away

Johnson, Joanne. (17 December 1987). Emily Hall Tremaine, 79; collected contemporary art. Hartford Courant, p. B12. (Viewed 28 September 2021. Q00247).

"Emily Hall Tremaine, one of the first collectors of contemporary American and European art, who was credited with opening the door to widespread appreciation of that genre, died Wednesday at her home in Madison. She was 79...

... Some of the better-known paintings the Tremaines owned included... Mondrian’s ’Victory Boogie-Woogie’... " (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations, or contact area public library.

1987 - obituary - Emily passes away

AP (Madison, Conn.) (18 December 1987). Obituaries... Emily Tremaine, art collector [with mention of Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Newsday (Long Island, New York), p. 41. (Viewed 4 September 2021. Q00249).

"... ’Emily Tremaine is widely admired not just for her intelligence and sensibility, but equally so for her courage,’ Andrea Miller-Keller, curator of contemporary art and acting chief curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum... Some of the better known paintings the Tremaines owned included... Mondrian’s ’Victory Boogie-Woogie’... " (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations.



From 1988 onwards, only selected publications that refer to Victory Boogie Woogie and the Tremaines are mentioned.



1988 articles

See the articles


1988 - article - auction of selected Tremaine artworks

Muchnic, Suzanne. (13 September 1988). Johns, Pollock works top art cache set for auction [with mention: "Thirty-two contemporary artworks from the Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine collection will go on the auction block Nov. 9 at Christie’s New York..."; and unrelated, mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Los Angeles Times, Part VI, pp. 1 & 3. (Viewed 2 September 2021. K00740-41).

"... [The Tremaine’s] first purchase was ’Victory Boogie Woogie,’ Piet Mondrian’s 1944 masterpiece, which is not in the auction ..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations.

1988 - article - auction of selected Tremaine artworks

Muchnic, Suzanne (Los Angeles Times). (16 September 1988). Contemporary art sale likely to set records [with mention of 32 works to be auctioned from the Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine collection by Christie’s; and unrelated, mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. The Journal-News (Nyack, New York), p. C4. (Viewed 2 September 2021. K00744-45).

"... [The Tremaine’s] first purchase was ’Victory Boogie Woogie,’ Piet Mondrian’s 1944 masterpiece, which is not in the auction ..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations, or contact area public library.

1988 - article - auction of selected Tremaine artworks

Muchnic, Suzanne (Los Angeles Times). (17 September 1988). Major works to be sold from Tremaine collection [with mention of 32 works to be auctioned from the Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine collection by Christie’s; and unrelated, mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Hartford Courant, Connecticut Living section, pp. G1 & G2. (Viewed 21 September 2021. K00774-75).

"... [The Tremaine’s] first purchase was ’Victory Boogie Woogie,’ Piet Mondrian’s 1944 masterpiece, which is not in the auction ..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.

1988 - article - auction of selected Tremaine artworks

Howells, Beverley. (6 November 1988). [Burton and Emily Hall] Tremaine collection under the hammer in New York [with mention of 32 works to be auctioned by Christie’s; and apart from this, mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Sunday Morning Post / South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), Living section, p. 4. (Viewed 21 September 2021. K00752).

"... One of the first purchases [by the Tremaines] was Victory Boogie Woogie (1944), Piet Mondrian’s last work ..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for locations.



1990s


1991 - obituary

Fowler, Glenn. (27 March 1991). Burton G. Tremaine, executive, 89, dies; a collector of art [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. New York Times. (Viewed 21 September 2021. K00048).

"... the Tremaines began to assemble their collection with the purchase of Piet Mondrian’s painting ’Broadway Boogie-Woogie.’ ..." (Excerpt from above.)






1991 - other articles

See the articles


1991 - article mention - second Tremaine auction of selected works to take place

Reif, Rita. (7 June 1991). 50 paintings to be sold from Tremaine estate [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. New York Times, p. C3. (Updated 21 September 2021. H00525; K00738).

"... [Mr. Tremaine] sold a keystone of their collection, Mondrian’s last painting ’Victory Boogie-Woogie’, from 1943-44. S. I. Newhouse Jr. reportedly paid $11 million for it through Larry Gagosian..." (Excerpt from above.)


1991 - feature article - second Tremaine auction of selected works to take place; works currently on view at Wadworth Atheneum

Tully, Judd (New York, June 6). (7 June 1991). Major Moderns for sale; Christie’s to auction renowned collection [of Burton and Emily Hall Tremaine (estates); works currently on view at Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford]. Washington Post, C2. (Viewed 14 October 2021. Q00663).

"... In 1985 dealer Larry Gagosian showed some of the Tremaine masterpieces at his New York [gallery] and sold their key Mondrian, ’Victory Boogie Woogie’ [in c. 1988] for a reported $10 million to publishing magnate S. I. Newhouse. It was the artist’s last painting and the couple’s first purchase in 1944..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.

1991 - article mention

Glueck, Grace. (24 June 1991). One art dealer who’s still a high roller [about Larry Gagosian; mention of Burton and Emily Tremaine and Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. New York Times, p. C9, C16. (Viewed 16 October 2021. Q00664).

"... Mr. Gagosian worked his way up to such resale clients as Burton and Emily Tremaine, from whose celebrated collection of post-World War II art he sold prizes like Piet Mondrian’s ’Victory boogie-woogie,’ to Mr. Newhouse for a price reported to be $11 million..." (Excerpt from above.)


  • See worldcat.org for possible locations, or contact area public library.



2000s

2007 - article

(26 March 2007). "Victory boogie woogie" was niet af toen Mondriaan stierf [rough translation: "Victory boogie woogie was not finished when Mondrian died"] [with photo of Piet Mondrian’s Victory Woogie Boogie]. De Standaard (Belgium). (Viewed 14 January 2022. Q01137).


2010s

2014 - spotlighted article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. BN De Stem newspaper (Breda, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00796).

2014 - spotlighted article mention

Elman, Leslie Gilbert. (19 July 2014). 7 places to visit in The Hague— from Escher museum to Peace Palace [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie, possibly previously with photo of the artwork]. CNN travel section. (Viewed 7 November 2021. Q00912).

"... 2. Gemeentemuseum; ... The Gemeentemuseum contains the world’s largest collection of Mondrian’s work presented in a chronological display... The highlight is ’Victory Boogie Woogie,’ ... You’ll see it behind the waves of tourists posing in front of it, one of whom was President Barack Obama when he visited The Hague for the International Nuclear Security Summit in March..." (Excerpt from above.)



2014 - other articles

See the articles


2014 - article, two photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

AFP / ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama ging ook schilderij Mondriaan bewonderen [rough translation: "Obama also went to admire Mondrian’s painting"]. Het Laatste Nieuws (Antwerp, Belgium). (Viewed 21 November 2021. Q009 ).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. Brabants Dagblad newspaper (Den Bosch, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00799).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. Eindhovens Dagblad (Eindhoven, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00797).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. De Gelderlander newspaper (Nijmegen, The Netherlands). (Viewed 23 October 2021. Q00791).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. Het Parool (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00792).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (Vlissingen, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00800).

2014 - article - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

Presumably ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; presumably with photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie]. De Telegraaf newspaper (The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00793).

  • Search worldcat.org for possible locations.

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. De Stentor newspaper (Zwolle, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00798).

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with three photos of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. Twentsche Courant Tubantia (Twente, The Netherlands). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00794).

2014 - article, photo - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

Presumably ANP Photo(s). (25 March 2014). Obama bekijkt ook Victory Boogie Woogie [rough translation: "Obama also takes a look at Victory Boogie Woogie"; with at least one photo of President Obama looking at Mondrian’s Victory Boogie Woogie with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. De Volkskrant newspaper (The Netherlands). (Viewed 26 October 2021. Q00807).

  • Search worldcat.org for locations.

2014 - article, photos - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

ANP Photos. (25 March 2014). Obama ging ook schilderij Mondriaan bewonderen [rough translation: "Obama also went to admire Mondrian’s painting"; with two photos of President Obama looking at the artwork, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others]. De Morgen newspaper (Antwerp, Belgium). (Viewed 24 October 2021. Q00795).

2014 - news brief mention, photo - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

RTL Nieuws / ANP (Photo presumably). (25 March 2014). Nog een laatste schilderij bekijken [rough translation: "viewing one last painting"; with mention and photo of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. rtl nieuws (TV news). (Viewed 26 October 2021. Q00975).

2014 - article, photo - U. S. President Obama photographed with Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie

(30 March 2014). Bezoek Obama aan Victory Boogie Woogie gered door standvastige burgemeester Van Aartsen [rough translation: "Obama’s visit to Victory Boogie Woogie saved by steadfast mayor Van Aartsen"]. Omroep West (TV / radio) website. (Viewed 21 November 2021. Q00974).

Van Aartsen: "... ’De persconferentie had een ferme toon vanwege de situatie met Rusland, maar toen Obama eenmaal de Victory Boogie Woogie zag, kon hij ontspannen. Hij was erg onder de indruk en oprecht geïnteresseerd in het werk van Mondriaan.’ ..." (Excerpt from above.)


Rough translation, Van Aartsen: "... ’The press conference had a firm tone due to the situation with Russia, but once Obama saw the Victory Boogie Woogie, he was able to relax. He was very impressed and genuinely interested in Mondrian’s work.’ ..." (Excerpt from above.)




2017 - spotlighted article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie and representations in Painting toward architecture (1947-52)

Preece, R. J. (July / August 2017). Rethinking "Painting toward architecture" [with mention of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie and its representations]. Sculpture magazine, 36(6), pp. 18-21. (Viewed 19 September 2021).


2017 articles

See the articles


2017 - article mention, photo - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in Gemeentemuseum show

Abrams, Amah-Rose & Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena. (22 March 2017). "Block"-buster? The biggest Mondrian exhibition ever is coming this summer [with mention and photo of Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. artnet.com. (Viewed 26 October 2021. Q00806).

2017 - photo in news brief

ANP Photo. (30 May 2017). Mondriaantour voor baby’s in Gemeentemuseum [Rough translation "Tour of Mondrian works for babies at Gemeentemuseum, The Hague; with cropped photo of Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Algemeen Dagblad newspaper (The Netherlands). (Viewed 23 October 2021. Q00790).



2018 - spotlighted article mention - Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie and representations in Painting toward architecture (1947-52)

Preece, R. J. (2018). Piet Mondrian. Victory boogie woogie & Painting toward architecture [a detailed analysis of factual documentatiion related to all known venues]. artdesigncafe.com. (Viewed 19 September 2021).

2019 - photo in printed presentation

(October 2019). [Series of selected photos of artworks in installation contexts; including Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie installed in Piet Mondrian memorial exhibition, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, (6 November - 16 December 1946), followed by two copies, and an interpretation of a completed VBW.]. Postdocument (Paris, France), 14, p. 9. (Viewed 7 November 2021. K01301-03).


2020s

2021 - spotlighted article mention, photo

Solomon, Tessa. (5 March 2021). How Piet Mondrian’s abstractions became a new way to see the world [with mention and photo of Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie]. Art in America magazine. (Viewed 26 October 2021. Q00805).

"... with Victory Boogie Woogie, left unfinished at the time of his death in 1944, Mondrian pushed the destruction of his conventions even further, turning the canvas so it became a diamond instead of a square. He conceived the painting in anticipation of the Allied triumph, which he never lived to celebrate...." (Excerpt from above.)



n. d.

n. d. - Wikipedia entry

(undated). "Victory Boogie Woogie" entry. Wikipedia.org. (Viewed 19 December 2021).


E. Possible information about Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie in the Emily Hall Tremaine papers:

Emily Hall Tremaine papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Series 4: Artist Files, 1936-2000. Artist files: "Warhol, Andy, circa 1962-2000" and "Warhol, Andy, 1962-2000".




F. Other information resources concerning Piet Mondrian’s Victory boogie woogie, mainly focused while under Tremaine ownership (1944-87):

> Emily Hall Tremaine Papers at the Smithsonian, reproduction permissions section: Shortlisted guide to artworks

> Tremaine Collection artworks and designs in publications (compilation; 1945-present)

> Tremaine Collection artworks and designs in exhibitions (compilation; 1945-present)


The research involving Tremaine / Miller Co. art & design, collected and commissioned, is ongoing. Drawn from various secondary and primary sources, the information above may change. At this stage, the information should be considered “leads” for confirmation and not necessarily “facts”.