De Stijl Oil Painting Reproductions

De Stijl Art: A Brief Introduction

De Stijl refers to a small group of Dutch artists working in the early twentieth century. They focused on pure geometry and color in painting with a deeply abstract style of art.

The De Stijl movement was highly influential but short-lived. Commencing in 1917, it lasted until the mid-1930s. Today, we briefly introduce this beautiful and highly intellectual style of art. From its leading proponents to critical characteristics, here’s everything you need to know.

What is De Stijl?

De Stijl was originally an artistic and academic publication. Founded in 1917 by Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg, it became a vehicle for these two artists’ views on artistic production.

Mondrian defined his aims in a series of revolutionary essays published in the magazine’s first years. This included grand, utopian views of society and a rational view of a new “universal” art. Van Doesburg further believed the style could “influence all cultures.”

With this in mind, the pair’s guiding motto was “the object of nature is man, the object of man is style.” They hoped this fresh style could transform all art forms: this incorporated fine art, painting, urban planning, poetry, music, and typography.

Mondrian’s writings also introduced the term “Neo-Plasticism.” A new word, it referred to Mondrian’s unique form of abstract painting. Like the De Stijl approach, it utilized only vertical and horizontal lines combined with primary colors. Literally translated as “new art,” it played a fundamental role in the De Stijl movement’s aesthetics and goals.

When did De Stijl art and end?

After its initial phase from 1916 to 1921, the De Stijl movement was also influenced by the Proun style of Russian artists such as El Lissitzky. After this point, the third De Stijl phase lasted until 1932. It ended with the death of its co-founder, Theo van Doesburg.

Mondrian withdrew from the De Stijl group in 1923. Prompted by Van Doesburg’s inclusion of diagonal lines in his artworks, he felt the movement’s stylistic objectives were failing. Calling his approach “Elementarism”, Van Doesburg continued the De Stijl publication until 1931.

Indeed, Van Doesburg’s diagonal style is evident in works such as Contra Composition XX and Simultaneous Counter-Composition V. He also produced several strictly De Stijl artworks, such as Contra Composition X. These corresponded with Mondrian’s creations such as Composition Red Yellow Blue and Tableau II.

After the significant friction between the group’s founders, Mondrian continued the De Stijl “style.” Later, Piet Mondrian paintings such as Composition (1939) and Broadway Boogie-Woogie (1942-3) resumed his highly distinctive approach.

Who are the foremost De Stijl artists?

As well as Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg, other De Stijl artists included Georges Vantongerloo, Vordemberge-Gildewart and Bart van der Leck.

As well as painters, architects such as JJP Oud and Gerrit Rietveldd also contributed to the movement. De Stijl architecture similarly focused on simplified geometric designs and integrating interior and exterior aspects.

In 1918, the group produced an eight-page manifesto. Signed by Mondrian, Vantongerloo, Van Doesburg, Vilmos Huzar, Robert Van’t Hoff, Jan Wils, and Anthony Kok, it bound the men together. They focused exclusively on compositions using only basic rectangular blocks, lines, and primary colors.

Despite these strict rules, this group of artists, sculptors, and architects worked in various mediums and styles. They all renounced naturalistic representation, however. Instead, they favored a stripped-back formal approach.

Like movements such as Dada, De Stijl responded to the horror and devastation of World War One. Unlike this military and political chaos, De Stijl artists wanted to build artistic (and societal) harmony. They believed this provided a blueprint for restoring stability and order to everyday life.

What are the characteristics of De Stijl art?

De Stijl means “the style” in Dutch. Its primary characteristics are simplicity and abstraction.

Writing about his painting (and the Neoplasticism style), Mondrian characterized his art as a “pure representation of the human mind.” He argued this should appear in an aesthetically purified form. By this, Mondrian meant pure abstraction.

This was art that couldn’t accept “natural or concrete representation.” Instead, it needed to ignore the “particulars of appearance completely.”

On the contrary, De Stijl and Neo-Plasticist art focused on abstraction of form and color. This simply meant straight lines and clearly defined primary tones. It was an “ideal” art form, emphasizing the essential elements of painting in their purest form.

Indeed, the three primary colors of blue, yellow, and red were carefully chosen. The mathematician Dr. M.H.J. Schoenmaekers wrote that “yellow radiates” whereas “blue recedes and red floats.” The resulting equilibrium resulted in pure, balanced compositions.

What made De Stijl famous?

De Stijl profoundly impacted both abstract art and modern architecture. Its focus on abstraction and simplicity was so shocking and persistent that it quickly rose to prominence.

Piet Mondrian primarily made the movement famous, although Theo van Doesburg artworks also defined the approach. Intriguingly, early Piet Mondrian art didn’t conform to the strict De Stijl style.

Indeed, paintings such as Church near Domburg and Windmill in Sunlight are highly figurative with recognizable people and forms. Progressing through levels of abstraction (evidenced in paintings like Apple Tree in Flower), this eventually culminated in famed De Stijl artworks such as Composition with Black Red Gray Yellow and Blue (1921).

As well as these iconic paintings, famous Theo van Doesburg artworks include Variation on Composition XIII and Composition (1924).

As well as their unique approach, De Stijl artworks also responded to styles such as Cubism and Suprematism. This enhanced the visibility of the movement by aligning with broader avant-garde trends. Cubism’s focus on deconstructing visual clues with straight lines and flat geometric planes of color was particularly influential.

De Stijl oil painting reproductions

If you love the simplicity and beauty of De Stijl artworks, explore our unique collection of oil painting reproductions. Whether it’s Piet Mondrian paintings or Theo van Doesburg artworks, you’ll find art to enrich your life and your walls.