De Stijl

De stijl was founded in 1917 established through an art journal called 'De Stijl' in The Netherlands. Painters, architects and designers were associated in some way with the movement, such as Theo van Doesburg who was the leader, Piet Mondrian, Gerrit Reitveld, Bart Anthony van der Leck, Vilmas Haszar, Jacobus Johannas Pieter Oud, and more which all had different roles within the art journal and the style. The art journal brought forward works of art and design in avant-garde and also exposed Russian Constructivism. De Stijl movement enhanced the idea of no ornamentation and was based on simplicity, abstraction and harmony. It mostly uses the basic primary colours the blue, red and yellow, also the white, black and grey. It encouraged the design to be functional. By the artist Piet Mondrian the style encouraged Neo-Plasticism which means the new plasticism. This term refers to the primary colours and simplistic abstractions from Mondrian.

Painting by Piet Mondrian (one of the main influences to the De Stijl).

Furniture by Gerrit Reitveld

The Red and Blue chair by Gerrit Reitveld was designed in the 1918. It is truly showing its De Stijl characteristics throughout its form and simplicity. It is built with pieces of straight cut wood for its frame and other two plane wooden boards for the seating and backrests parts. As soon as one see it, it will immediately reminds you of the Piet Mondrian’s paintings, because of its straight lines concept and for the primary colours used which are both elements that reflects the inspiration of the painting from Mondrian. This chair might not be so practical but was designed to serve in particular environments where it shouldn’t be moved so often due to its huge dimensions. In other words it is an interesting work of art which has a function.

Side board

Blue and Red Chair - 1918

Another interesting furniture designed by Gerrit Reitveld is the Sideboard (1919). This is very particular one by its form. It has the main elements of the De Stijl style within its design, which can be seen through those straight, vertical and horizontal lines. Although its form is a unique one, it is very well planned to do its function well.

Sideboard - 1919

Fashion

Fashion is always exploring new ideas which might be influenced by different styles of the time and the past. De Stijl and Piet Mondrian in particular ware great influences to the popular fashion designer Yves St Laurent. Some examples of his designs are showing in the images below, have all the elements from Piet Mondrian’s paintings. St Laurent, then created his own collection which was named the ‘Mondrian Collection’. All dresses designed in this collection have all been made in bold primary colours and with vertical and horizontal lines resembles the grid idea of Mondrian.
De Stijl not only made influence on Yves St Laurent, but also on other fashion designer at that time and now. 

Yves St Laurent - One of his dress designs from the collection

Yves collection

Different elements in fashion design which took inspiration from De Stijl, today and before. 

As we go through this style we understand that it made influences on every aspects of design from small products to furniture, to architecture and interior design. It is interesting that the elements of this style are still used today as its main characteristics are timeless and can be ‘reused’ any time. 

References:

Encyclopædia Britannica, 2016. De Stijl. [online] Available at: http://www.britannica.com/topic/De-Stijl-art [Accessed 29 May 2016].

Fiell C. and Fiell P., 2015. Design of the 20th Century. Köln: Taschen.

Hauffe, T., 1998, Design A Concise History. London: Laurence King Publishing.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Dress [online] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/C.I.69.23/ [Accessed 29 May 2016].