 |
| Composition (The Cow), 1917 In analyzing the form of a cow, Van Doesburg turns it step by step into a group of rectangles, eliminating all the curved and triangular elements. |
 |
| 1 Composition VIII (The Cow), 1918 |
De
Stijl is a Dutch movement originated by painter and designer Theo Van Doesburg
in 1917. De Stijl art was intended to be a “universal visual language” suitable
to the new age. The art included basic visual elements such as geometric shapes
and primary colours.
The
graphic and typographic style of De Stijl was unlike dada it sought to regain
order. It was disciplined, used sans serif typeface, straight lines, and
rectangular blocks, included innovative asymmetrical layouts and most
importantly paved the way for the International Typographic style.
Due
to the changing world of technology art reflected the modern idea of having
something that is functional, comfortable as well as practical for the audience
(Smith, 2005, 20). This concept provoked members of the movements who were
especially afraid to express the “general awareness of their age” (Meggs, 2006,
299).
 |
The Collection | Unknown Artist. De Stijl NB 73/74. 1926 |
 |
| De Stijl, volume 4, number 11 |
In
1917, Theo van Doesburg founded the contemporary art journal De Stijl hence
from where the movement got its name. In May 1920, Van Doesburg started
publishing experimental poems categorized under ‘Bonset’.
One
of Van Doesburg’s most influential pieces is a spread from the book ‘De Stijl’,
‘Volume 4, Number 11’. This particular spread is laid out in a stimulating
asymmetric way that makes use of orthogonal principles, as well as
experimentation with adaptations in letter sizes. In fact this piece works so
well because it captures perfectly the stylistic characteristics pursued by the
De Stijl movement. Furthermore, it exhibits how their principles can be
translated from a painting into typography. (JKnowles, 2008)
De
Stijl was simply a movement that involved a way forward from the war where many
such as Van Doesburg where fed up from the confusion and chaos and wanted to
create style-less art.
What
interested me the most about Van Doesburg is his rectilinear sans serif
typeface, which was influenced from the De Stijl movement. At first glace the
type seems unfitting and unconventional, making certain characters practically
unreadable. However when studying it further, you notice that the whole
typeface is based upon a square that is constructed entirely of evenly weighted
strokes.
 |
| Architype, Van Doesburg, 1919 |
The
purpose of the typeface is to develop form from function. This meaning that each shape is constructed with the intention that it
follows its intended function or purpose, which in this case is following the
idea of De Stijl by staying with the use of orthogonals. The finished typeface
was used in 1919.
Theo van Doesburg eventually started working with Dadaists. His popular piece, ‘Kleine Dada Soire’e’, a book cover, was built upon the De Stijl style introducing the diagonal in his work to fit the new ideas of Dada.
Theo van Doesburg eventually started working with Dadaists. His popular piece, ‘Kleine Dada Soire’e’, a book cover, was built upon the De Stijl style introducing the diagonal in his work to fit the new ideas of Dada.
 |
|
 |
| Study for Arithmetic Composition, 1929-1930. |
 |
| Counter Composition V, 1924 |
 |
| Peinture pure. May-July 1920. |
Van
Doesburg’s dream of starting a movement of new art did lead to some great works
and even contributed to the huge Bauhaus movement. As we saw, De
Stijl principles were obviously suggesting a very basic language of
communication, a language that could be understood by almost everyone around
the world.
 |
| Compositie VIII 1917 (doorbeelding der kaartspelers). |
 |
| Design for a poser for the Section d'Or exhibition, 1920 |
In
fact, upon researching modern inspirations from Van Doesburg, I came across
cooperative partnership of Erris Huigens and Gusbert Zijlstra who in their
works of ‘Graphic Surgery’, choose to use distinctive elements of Van Doesburg
and the De Stijl movement. The connection is mainly seen in the use of the
orthogonals and the square as well as the primary colours.
 |
| Graphc Surgery, Poster Inspired from Van Doesburg |
Bibliography
Eskilson, S.J., 2007. Graphic
Design: A New History. Hardcover ed. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Iconofgraphics,
2009. Theo Van Doesburg. [Online] Available at: http://www.iconofgraphics.com/Theo-Van-Doesburg/ [Accessed 4 November 2014].
JKnowles,
2008. Theo van Doesburg. [Online] Available at: http://designhistorymashup.blogspot.com/2008/04/theo-van-doesburg.html [Accessed 2 December 2014].
Meggs, P.B.
& Purvis, P.W., 2011. Meggs' History of Graphic Design. 5th ed.
Wiley.
theartstory.org,
2010. De Stijl. [Online] Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-de-stijl.htm [Accessed 4 November 2014].
No comments:
Post a Comment