Minimalism and De Stijl

Minimalism 

Minimalism began in the 1950’s as a reaction to the Abstract Expressionism and continued in 1960-70’s. It is also known as the ABC art. Style highlights include of simple, clean, abstract, geometric, repetition, and use of industrial materials. Deeply influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture and De Stijl. They wanted to eliminate emotions and meaning from their work and stuck to the saying ‘’Less is more’’. When possible they reduced the work to its simplest form meaning it had least colours, shapes and textures. Colours were not used to express moods or feelings unlike Abstract Expressionism, Soft colours or primary colours were usually used in minimalistic work. Minimalists rejected ornaments and decorative styles, this movement wanted to bring design to its most basic form with a purpose and allow the viewer to have an immediate connection with the art.

Famous artists of this movement –

Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Frank Stella and Robert Morris.

Donald Judd

Donald Judd was born 1928 and passed away in 1994, he was an American artist that is known for his minimalistic creations. Judd wanted to create simple constructed objects put out in an open space that created a composition. His work defined the meaning of minimalism. Judd created hi art by using materials like steel, concrete and plywood. He created Minimalist sculptures in different repetitive forms. He used fabricated materials for his work that gave his work a machine –made aesthetic.

Donald Judd 1928-1994 | Minimalist Art Movement

Donald Judd - Untitled, 1966

De Stijl (Meaning ‘The Style’) 1917-1931 

De Stijl also known as Neo-Plasticism is an art and design movement that originated in Holland by painters, designers and artists. Its founders were Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg. This movement simplified and abstracted art by using asymmetrical balance or rectangles, planes, verticals, horizontals, the use of primary colours along with black white and grey. Designers wanted to create a new way of doing architecture. This movement had the aim to make art simple and to the most basic form.

Architectural Characteristics

- Flat roof

- Asymmetry

- Geometric forms

- Primary colours and grey walls

- Rectangular shapes for windows and doors.

- Different window sizes that were arranged in a pattern.



Theo Van Doesburg was the founder of De Stijl, he was a Dutch artist that created abstract paintings.

Piet Mondrian, one of the founders of the movement De Stijl, he is known for his abstract art as well, he created work that was simple and included a lot of shapes, lines and primary colours.

Gerrit Rietveld

Gerrit Rietveld was an architect and furniture designer and was part of the De Stijl movement, he is most famous for his Red and Blue chair design (1917) were he made us of straight panels (rectangles) with square volumes. Until the 1920s he hadn’t painted it in any colours but then thought he should add a touch of the colours; red, blue and black, that were known to be the colours of the movement. Rietveld wanted to achieve simplicity through his work. We don’t have many examples of De Stijl architecture around us but The Shroder House in Holland by Gerrit Rietveld is one good example. It was built in 1924 for Mrs Truus Schröder-Schräder, she wanted a house with least walls so there would be a connection with the outside world and the inside. This house was all covered in the primary colours and made out of geometric shapes. the structure was made out of reinforced concrete and steel profiles. With walls made of bricks and plaster, the house was all covered with windows so there would be a lot of light going through. All the rooms of the house had access to the outdoors and had wood flooring. This is still an icon modern architectural building because Rietveld achieved to create a functional house with a De Stijl style.

when comparing De Stijl and Minimalism you can clearly see how the Minimalism was deeply influenced by De Stijl style.

Refernece -

Theo van Doesburg (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_van_Doesburg (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1012758525104533323#editor/target=post;postID=31990815357254363

van Doesburg, T. (2016) De Stijl movement, artists and Major Works. Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-de-stijl.htm (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Red and blue chair (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_and_Blue_Chair (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Hudson, B. (2012) Neo-Plasticism & de Stijl. Available at: http://www.contemporisticon.com/neo-plasticism-de-stijl/ (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

 

A brief visual history of the utopian de Stijl movement (2012) Available at: https://99designs.com/blog/uncategorized/know-your-design-history-the-utopian-de-stijl-movement/ (Accessed: 22 May 2016).