Neoplasticism
Neoplasticism, known in Dutch as Nieuwe Beelding (New Visualization), is an avant-garde art theory that arose in 1917 and was employed mainly by Dutch De Stijl artists. The most notable advocates of the theory were the painters Theo van Doesburg and Piet Mondriaan.[1] Neoplasticism advocated for an abstract art that had been purified by applying the most elementary principles through plainly rational means. Thus, a painting that adhered to neoplastic theory would typically consist of only simple shapes and primary colors.[2]
For the art movement that birthed this school of theory, itself sometimes called "Neoplasticism", see De Stijl.(Historically, the term "plastic arts" pre-dates Neoplasticism and denotes visual art forms (painting, sculpture, and ceramics) as opposed to literature or music. The terms plasticity and plasticism became more widely used in the early 20th century by critics discussing modern painting, particularly the works of Paul Cézanne.[3])