155 Three High Houses - Friedensreich Hundertwasser

A 1953 composition by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, featuring three architectural structures rendered in a rhythmic, non-linear grid of red, yellow, and blue.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser, born Friedrich Stowasser, was an Austrian artist known for his rejection of straight lines and his fascination with organic, irregular forms. In 155 Three High Houses, created in 1953, the artist presents a vision of urban architecture that departs from conventional geometry. The work features three distinct structures, rendered through a grid-like system of blocks. Rather than adhering to rigid, uniform construction, the buildings appear to sway and shift, reflecting the artist's belief in the necessity of human-centric, non-linear design.

The composition relies on a restricted palette of red, yellow, and dark blue, applied in a manner that suggests a mosaic or a woven surface. Each block within the grid contains variations in size and shape, creating a sense of rhythmic movement across the canvas. The roofs are depicted as simple, angular forms, providing a contrast to the dense, repetitive patterns of the facades below. This work predates his later, more famous architectural projects, yet it contains the core philosophy that would define his career: the idea that the straight line is godless and that architecture should reflect the natural, uneven character of life.

Technically, the painting demonstrates a disciplined approach to colour and form. The application of paint is flat, allowing the graphic quality of the grid to dominate the viewer's experience. By breaking down the facade into individual units, Hundertwasser invites the observer to consider the building not as a monolithic structure, but as a collection of individual spaces. This piece offers a clear window into the early development of his aesthetic, where the tension between order and chaos is resolved through a playful, almost childlike arrangement of colour and shape. It remains a representative example of his early exploration of the built environment.