37. De Stijl (Neoplasticism) (1917-) – The Dutch Copy Malevich

What was it about? What were the goals?

This was yet another art movement advocating simple geometric shapes and primary colours in order to express the spiritual core of its subject, and that branched into architecture.

A bit of historical context:

It’s not certain where De Stijl got its name, but it’s assumed to come from the writing of a Dutch architect, Gottfried Semper. The word stijl has a second meaning in Dutch – of a post or supporting beam, which explains so many of the bold, black vertical lines that seem to hold up so many of these art works. 

How was this different from Suprematism?

The underlying philosophy of the period:

How was it represented in the other arts – music, architecture, and literature?

Was it great?

Some leading figures:

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)

Bart van der Leck (1876-1958)

Theo Van Doesburg (1883-1931)

Vilmos Huszár (1884–1960) 

Robert van 't Hoff (1887-1979) (architect)

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888-1964) (architect)

J. J. P. Oud (1890-1963) (architect)

Some of the most famous artworks of the time: