De Stijl, meaning ‘the style,’ emerged in the 1920s through the ’30s as a response to the depressing impact of WWI. It was formulated in the Netherlands and was a geometric and abstract style that combined form and function into art. Two men founded the style: Theo van Doesburg and Piet Mondrian; each had their own personal take on the movement, but ultimately both contributed to the unique style of de Stijl. They promoted it through the years in a journal that also bore the title ‘De Stijl.’ The journal, which was initially used for advertising the art of abstraction, later became a window for the portrayal of the new movement of de Stijl in its finest form.

Pier Mondrian’s subsection of de Stijl was inspired to turn the visual world into simplicity and perfection through experimental artwork. He analyzed the composition and abstracted it into its fundamental purity of elements. He used balance through symmetry, grids, and primary colors. The goal of his artwork was to go beyond fine art as it was and the natural world and create a common language.

Where Pier moved towards the stable and concrete subject matter, Van Doesburg emphasized movement and dynamism in his works through the diagonal plane. This slight disparity between their renditions of the de Stijl style ultimately led to the end of their friendship by 1924. Pier viewed art as something to be experienced and add to an environment. Thus, he created many physical pieces, such as designing architecture, furniture, stained glass, and other functional items.

De Stijl greatly impacted other movements, such as Bauhaus, where many of its members taught. The architectural style also influenced later styles, such as the international style. De Stijl had a significant overall effect on the world of abstract expressionism and is still prominent in pop culture, fashion, and more.

Citations:

https://worldhistoryproject.org/1924/van-doesburg-and-mondrian-split

https://www.theartstory.org/artist/van-doesburg-theo/

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-de-stijl-in-art/

https://www.stedelijk.nl/en/exhibitions/de-stijl-at-the-stedelijk

https://www.myartprints.co.uk/a/piet-mondrian.html

Art Movement: De Stijl