De Stijl Movement Overview

Study Notes

De Stijl

De Stijl is a Dutch word meaning "The Style", a movement in art, architecture, and design that originated in the Netherlands in 1917.
Key figures: Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg.
The movement aimed to create a universal art language that would reflect the modern world, using primary colors, geometric shapes, and a minimalist approach.
De Stijl was influenced by the war and mass industrialization, aiming to reflect the simplicity of nature.
Its principles can be seen in architecture, furniture design, and painting.

Influences

1912: Mondrian is influenced by Picasso's cubism in Paris.
1913: Mondrian starts creating "geometrized" analytical cubist compositions, moving towards abstract art.
1914: Mondrian's "plus-and-minus" compositions emerge, showcasing simplified forms.

Timeline

1915: Mondrian and van Doesburg meet and begin to communicate.
1916: Mondrian and van der Leck collaborate, leading to early compositions using rectangular planes of primary colors.
1917: The De Stijl group is founded in Leiden, including artists, sculptors, architects, and a writer. The "De Stijl" magazine is launched in October.
1918: Mondrian's compositions become more compact, with pale rectangles divided by black lines. Van Doesburg continues with his isolated vertical and horizontal rectangles.
1920: De Stijl publishes its second manifesto. Mondrian moves to Paris and develops a simpler, more asymmetrical style.
1921: Van Doesburg continues publishing De Stijl, impacting the Bauhaus movement. Mondrian refines his style, using heavy black lines to define rectangles of primary colors and various greys.
1922: De Stijl impacts architects in Berlin, including Taut and Mies van der Rohe.
1923: A De Stijl exhibition held in Paris potentially influences Le Corbusier. Mondrian's style becomes fully developed.
1924: Rietveld completes his house at Utrecht, a key example of De Stijl architecture.
1925: Oud designs Café de Unie in Rotterdam, showcasing De Stijl principles in interior design. Kiesler's "The City in Space" is exhibited at the Paris Exposition of Decorative Arts. Mondrian leaves De Stijl.
1926: The Société Anonyme exhibits Mondrian and other De Stijl artists at the Brooklyn Museum.
1926-1928: Van Doesburg collaborates with Arp and Taüber-Arp on the cabaret L'Aubette in Strasbourg, promoting an abstract and geometric style.
1928: Van Doesburg publishes his manifesto of "elementarism"

De Stijl Works

Rietveld Schroder House (1924): A landmark of De Stijl architecture by Gerrit Rietveld, showcasing the movement's principles of open space and simplified forms.
Composition A (1923): A painting by Mondrian that exemplifies the movement's use of primary colors, horizontal and vertical lines, and a minimalist approach.
Red and Blue Chair (1918-1923): Designed by Rietveld, this chair showcases the use of primary colors and geometric forms, becoming iconic furniture design of the era.

De Stijl Impact

Timeless Design: De Stijl's simple geometric shapes and use of primary colors influenced the Bauhaus Movement and modern design, contributing to lasting aesthetic principles in art and architecture.
Popular Culture: The movement has influenced fashion, art, and even product design. Nike's "Piet Mondrian" sneakers are a clear example of this impact.
Music: The band "The White Stripes" named an album after the movement, demonstrating its lasting influence on 21st-century musical aesthetics.

Additional Notes

De Stijl's ideals of universal expression and simple aesthetics resonated with 20th-century modernists.
The movement's emphasis on functionality played a crucial role in the development of modern architecture and design.
De Stijl's lasting influence, particularly in painting and furniture design, is evident in contemporary aesthetics.