Pieter Cornelis Mondrian, a Dutch artist considered one of the pioneers of abstraction, is primarily known for his works filled with geometric shapes and vibrant colors. However, one of his pieces, “New York City I” from 1941, has its extraordinary history that has intrigued gallery visitors for 75 years.

Many art enthusiasts who visited the gallery and gazed at this painting were convinced for years that it was correctly displayed. Imagine their astonishment when the curator of the exhibition “Mondrian: Evolution,” Susanne Meyer-Büser, noticed something that had escaped others. According to Meyer-Büser, a greater emphasis on the lower bands in the painting suggested a view of a “simplified sky,” which is what actually altered our perception.

Another surprise that confirmed the gallery’s mistake came when an old photograph from 1944, taken shortly after Mondrian’s death, was discovered. In this photograph, “New York City I” is visible on its easel, with its blue lines being indeed at the top.

Despite the revelation that Mondrian’s painting was actually inverted, it was not altered due to its poor technical condition. Inverting it could have led to the destruction of this valuable artwork. This mysterious inversion has captivated viewers for years and has become a part of the painting’s history.

Today, Piet Mondrian’s “New York City I” can be seen in the collection of the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen museum in Düsseldorf, Germany. This work, albeit somewhat enigmatic, continues to fascinate and inspire art enthusiasts worldwide, demonstrating that even seemingly minor details can make a work of art truly unforgettable.