De Stijl
Image from google
Modern Design..
De Stijl is the icon of modern style, or in this case the “universal style”. The universal style which lines with the De Stijl movement is to make functional pieces that can serve outside of the museum (rugs, furniture, wall art, etc.). This brought the museum to the people essentially, and also promoted mass production of style that is still being used today! Timelessness is the key element for this movement.
De Stijl (The Style) Movement
De Stijl (The Style in Dutch), as mentioned, has a universal style. This, the pieces must serve a universal platte to be able to become a environmental piece, resulting in harmonious balance; red, blue, yellow, black, white and gray to bring the present moment and grounding colors to anchor the viewer or in this case the owner 1. In many cases you can have entire buildings in this style, because of the choices the architect would make by using the ideas of the De Stijl movement resulting in the functional and timeless look of these homes or works of art.
Composition No. IV by Piet Mondrian. from google images
Red Blue Chair, 1918-23
Gerrit Rietveld is one of these figures within the De Stijl movement that believed in the universal style. One of his most famous architectural pieces is known as the Schröder House 1924, included everything within the house to serve within the De Stijl characteristics; straight clean line work, grid patterns and of course the colors: red, blue, yellow, black, white and gray 2. One of these furniture pieces is called the Red Blue Chair 1918-23, which was part of the total environment work. Making the Schröder House not just a work for the inhabitants to decide but the designer having full control over the end product of the project.
Red Blue Chair 1918-23 image from google
Conclusion
The De Stijl movement, despite the bold designs that may not be for everyone, served the universal part of the movement. This movement is why we have a buildable future from furniture companies today, where it can work into the inhabitants home. The designer’s end goal project was that the inhabitant can’t control or change, but yet at the end of the day the inhabitant can cherry pick these ideas and designs into their own homes. This movement was also a gateway for future ideas of art as an industry, not just something for museum-goers to enjoy timeless craftsmanship.
Image from Google
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Dr. Charles Cramer and Dr. Kim Grant. De Stijl, Part III: The Total De Stijl Environment. Khan Academy, 2023. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/cubism-early-abstraction/de-stijl/a/de-stijl-part-iii-the-total-de-stijl-environment.
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Dr. Charles Cramer and Dr. Kim Grant, “De Stijl, Part III: The Total De Stijl Environment”.