The time was post World War I and art was changing. De Stijl was what they called the movement, meaning literally “The Style”, and what the style looked like was a plastic-y, controlled burst of primary colors. This was the beginning of pure abstraction and they were reducing art to the very bare bones of color and form. They went beyond the cubists, eschewing natural imagery from their canvases and embracing this new aesthetic purity.

Perhaps the most famous example of this are Mondrian's compositions, which were simplified to show only the lines and weight of what he painted. De Stijl artists were strong in their philosophy, the paintings were spiritual, they were about harmony and unity in nature. During the art movements time, many people mistakenly believed the art's philosophy, called neoplasticism, to be about materialism and functionalism. The ideas were actually almost mystical, surrounding the ideal geometric forms and duality in nature.

Mondrian grew into De Stijl as he was attempting to explore his spirituality in painting. He has said of his work “I construct lines and color combinations on a flat surface, in order to express general beauty with the utmost awareness. Nature (or, that which I see) inspires me, puts me, as with any painter, in an emotional state so that an urge comes about to make something, but I want to come as close as possible to the truth and abstract everything from that, until I reach the foundation (still just an external foundation!) of things”

Mondrian's aesthetic in life matched his paintings and philosophy. To make his studio an inspiring space for his paintings, he tacked up large rectangular cards all over the wall in shades of white or some in a single hue. These colored squares and rectangles in composition decorated his walls. After he would assemble these, a storm of painting came. When he was done painting he would return to mastering the walls, which inspired the next canvas to be painted. In his final New York studio he painted the walls, easel, seats, tables and storage cases all white. Certain items in the studio would be splashed a brilliant red. While the finished works of art were not as abundant in this last studio, everyone who visited noted that the paper décor that Mondrian was forever perfecting was alluring, somehow relaxing but also stimulating to experience.

After Mondrian's death, this studio would be opened to the public for a 6-week exhibition. After the exhibition, Mondrian's friend traced the wall art precisely, and it became a portable art exhibit called “The Wall Works.”

Of course Mondrian was not the only De Stijl artist. This was also the first time since the Renaissance that architects wereheavily involved with an art movement. Gerrit Rietveld's Schroeder House being the most famous De Stijl building. Theo van Doesburg is another more recognizable artist who was very much a part of this movement.

A De Stijl painting is a classic piece to have in your home, bringing a sense of refined elegance. However as it is classic, a piece of this kind would also bring a contemporary feel to your space, arguably more than other abstract art of the time. Because of it's classic mainstream appeal a Mondrian looks good in any home, even traditional more cluttered spaces rather than sparse airy contemporary ones. Let Oil Painting Express bring a dazzling canvas of perfected primary color and lines into your home!