Cover of the launch issue of Art Concret - テオ ファン ドゥースブルフ Phone Case.

Theo van Doesburg Biography

• Born August 30, 1883 in Utrecht, Netherlands
• He started out as a stage actor and journalist.
• He began painting in the early 1910s, producing works influenced by Post-Impressionism and Cubism.
• In 1917, together with Piet Mondrian and others, he founded the art movement "De Stijl" and launched the magazine of the same name.
• Based on the principles of De Stijl, he is active in many areas, including painting, architecture, and design.
• In the 1920s, he also had connections with the Bauhaus and developed the theories of Constructivism and Elementalism.
• From the late 1920s onwards, he advocated his own artistic theory known as "representational art" and began to produce works using more concrete forms.
• Died March 7, 1931, Davos, Switzerland (aged 47)

Representative works

• Rhythm of a Russian Dance (1918)
• Counter-Composition V (1924)
• Arithmetic Composition (1930)
• The Cow (c. 1917) - Pre-De Stijl work
• Interior design of the Schroder House (Utrecht, in collaboration with Gerrit Rietveld)

Van Doesburg's art is based on the principles of De Stijl and pursues pure abstraction and universality. He argued that paintings, architecture and design should be composed using only limited elements such as horizontal and vertical lines, the three primary colors and achromatic colors. His works are characterized by geometric, clear forms and vivid colors, and are widely recognized as his most important achievements under the keywords "Theo van Doesburg De Stijl" and "Theo van Doesburg Abstract Painting ." In particular, the "Counter Composition" series is highly regarded as the work that most purely expresses the principles of De Stijl.

Van Doesburg was not only active in painting, but also in the fields of architecture and design, and his multi-talented activities are attracting attention with keywords such as "Theo van Doesburg architecture" and "Theo van Doesburg design." He applied the principles of De Stijl to architectural space, pursuing functional and rational designs.

During his short life, van Doesburg was passionate about artistic innovation and, as a central figure of De Stijl, left a major mark on 20th century art and design. His works and theories influenced the avant-garde art movement not only in the Netherlands but throughout Europe, making a major contribution to the development of contemporary art. His works are held in major art museums in the Netherlands, and you can find information on museums where you can view his works by searching for "Theo van Doesburg works" and "Theo van Doesburg Museum."