Theo van Doesburg
Theo van Doesburg was a Dutch painter and a key figure in the De Stijl art movement, which championed simplified geometric forms and vibrant colors. Born Christian Emil Marie Küpper on August 30, 1883, in Utrecht, he adopted his stepfather's name and later added "Van" as he established his artistic identity. Van Doesburg's early work was influenced by naturalism and the styles of Vincent van Gogh. However, after encountering Piet Mondrian's work during World War I, he shifted his focus to abstraction and developed the concept for the influential periodical De Stijl.
Throughout his career, Van Doesburg engaged not only in painting but also in writing, poetry, and architecture, contributing to various avant-garde movements, including Dada. He is known for his unique approach to De Stijl, preferring angled compositions over Mondrian's straight lines, which ultimately caused a rift between them. His architectural ventures, such as the Aubette Building in Strasbourg, showcased his Elementarism style, though not all were well-received.
Van Doesburg's legacy lies in his impact on contemporary artists, encouraging the integration of bold colors and geometric shapes. He passed away on April 7, 1931, in Switzerland, leaving behind a rich artistic heritage despite his relatively short life.
Theo van Doesburg
Artist, author, publisher
- Born: August 30, 1883
- Place of Birth: Place of birth: Utrecht, Netherlands
- Died: April 7, 1931
- Place of Death: Place of death: Davos, Switzerland
Education: No formal education
Significance: Dutch painter Theo Van Doesburg was one of the founders and major proponents of the De Stijl art movement, which emphasized simplified geometric and abstract forms and bright, bold color usage.
Background
Theo Van Doesburg was born Christian Emil Marie Küpper on August 30, 1883, in Ultrecht in the Netherlands. His parents were Henrietta Catherina Margadant and photographer Wilhelm Küpper. When he was nineteen years old, he adopted his stepfather’s name, Theo Doesburg. Soon, he began signing his works with this name.
This was the first of several pseudonyms Van Doesburg would use during his career. He often used a fake name when he was experimenting with new art forms, possibly so he would not risk his reputation. In time, Doesburg added the "Van" to his stepfather’s name, and this became the name by which he was best known.
His art career began around 1899, when Van Doesburg started to paint. Although this would be the art form for which he would become renowned, during his career he would engage in a number of artistic pursuits, including writing, poetry, and architecture. Van Doesburg also designed some printing typefaces and at least one stained-glass window.
At the start of his artistic career, Van Doesburg was a naturalist and influenced by Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890). Van Doesburg had his first exhibit in 1908 and was soon making enough money from painting and writing to support himself. However, when World War I began, he served with the Dutch military in an area near the Belgium front from 1914 to 1916. In 1915, he saw paintings by fellow Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872 – 1944) and developed the belief that true art comes from the mind, not from imitating visible objects. His work from this time reflects this change in perspective, and while he was still in the military, Van Doesburg first thought of the concept for a new periodical called De Stilj, which would promote this new style.
Life’s Work
Between 1916 and around 1927, Van Doesburg fostered the opinion that a work of art should not be just for the eyes but also should integrate the space around it. This led to his involvement in the De Stilj movement, along with several other Dutch artists, including Piet Mondrian (1879 – 1944), J.J. Oud (1890 -1963), and Bart van der Leck (1876 – 1958). This movement reflected a growing trend throughout Europe that emphasized art featuring large blocks of bright color separated by thin, black lines. Van Doesburg preferred to skew these blocks and lines at an angle, while Modrian preferred them to remain straight and square. The artists considered the matter to be so serious that it ended their friendship.
In support of the De Stilj movement, which was a key artistic style in the interwar time between World War I (1914 – 1919) and World War II (1939 – 1945), Van Doesburg and his contemporaries produced a magazine also named De Stilj. It was published from 1927 until Van Doesburg’s death in 1931. Generally considered the strongest proponent of De Stilj art, Van Doesburg also arranged for a number of exhibits by artists working in this style. His own works, including Study for a Composition (1923) and Simultaneous Counter-Composition (1929 – 1930) are examples of De Stilj art.
As an adult, Van Doesburg had the opportunity to regularly travel throughout Europe, where he encountered many different types of art and artists. As a result, he became interested in other art forms, many of them also avant-garde styles like De Stilj. One of these, Dada, encompassed both artistic and literary efforts and inspired Van Doesburg to write and publish another magazine, Mécano, between 1922 and 1923. Van Doesburg also dabbled in typography for these magazines, designing several fonts that reflected the aesthetics of the art featured in the magazine.
Van Doesburg continued to write for these and other publications throughout his short lifetime. This included poetry published under the pseudonym, I.K. Bonset (which translates as "I am a fool" in Dutch). His wife dressed in drag to portray this character at events; she was so good that many did not realize that I.K. Bonset was actually Van Doesburg until after his death.
In the latter part of his life, Van Doesburg worked on architectural projects, including the Aubette Building in Strasbourg, which was being remodeled in 1926. Van Doesburg and the project designers Hans Arp (1886 – 1966) and Sophie Tauber Arp (1899 – 1943) incorporated Elementarism, another of Van Doesburg’s preferred styles, into the design of everything from the building itself to the furnishings. Elementarism reflected Van Doesburg’s preference for tilted angles and lines in his work. The building was not well received, however, and several other designs on which Van Doesburg collaborated were never built. Despite this, a model of the interior of this building, the only known surviving interior model created by the artist, was acquired by the Het Nieuwe Instituut in 2021 and is considered a prized piece in the National Collection for Dutch Architecture and Urban Planning in Rotterdam. His final architectural project was a home with a studio in France where he planned to live with his wife, but he died before the project was completed.
Impact
Van Doesburg’s influence on the artists around him is generally considered to be his greatest legacy. Through the innovative, bold, geometric designs in his paintings, Van Doesburg inspired others to incorporate lively color and strong shapes into their art.
Personal
Van Doesburg eventually moved to Switzerland because of ill health. His died there on April 7, 1931, from a heart attack brought on by severe asthma. He was only 48.
The artist married four times. Three marriages ended in divorce, while the final marriage lasted until his death. His fourth wife, Nelly van Moorsel, lived in the house Van Doesburg designed until her death in the 1970s.
Bibliography
"De Stilj." The Art Story,n.d. Web. 29 June 2016.
"De Stilj." Cornell University,n.d. Web. 29 June 2016.
Mawer, Simon. " Theo van Doesburg: Forgotten Artist of the Avant Garde." The Guardian, Jan. 2010. Web. 29 June 2016.
Searle, Adrian. "Theo van Doesburg: The Splintered Self." The Guardian, Feb. 2010. Web. 29 June 2016.
"Theo van Doesburg 1883 – 1931." Tate Museum, Britain,n.d. Web. 29 June 2016.
"Theo van Doesburg (Christian Emil Marie Küpper)." Museum of Modern Art, New York,n.d. Web. 29 June 2016.
"Theo van Doesburg." The Art Story,n.d. Web. 29 June 2016.
"Theo van Doesburg’s Last Surviving Model Acquired for the National Collection." Artdependence Magazine, 26 Mar. 2021, artdependence.com/articles/theo-van-doesburg-s-last-surviving-model-acquired-for-the-national-collection/. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.