Josef Ongenae

Josef Ongenae (Belgian, 1921–1993) was a significant figure in abstract art. During World War II, he studied painting under Jan Cox, who introduced him to abstract principles influenced by Kandinsky. After the war, Ongenae moved to Amsterdam, where Mondrian’s work inspired him to create fully abstract compositions with strict horizontal and vertical lines.

From 1955 onwards, Ongenae’s work focused on colored squares, triangles, and rectangles set against monochrome backgrounds. His compositions were influenced by musical analogies, including jazz, bebop, and Indian music.