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Theo van Doesburg

Theo van Doesburg (Dutch: [ˈteːjoː vɑn ˈduzbʏr(ə)x]; 30 August 1883 – 7 March 1931) was a Dutch artist, who practiced painting, writing, poetry and architecture. He is best known as the founder and leader of De Stijl.[1][2] He was married to artist, pianist and choreographer Nelly van Doesburg.

Theo van Doesburg

Christian Emil Marie Küpper

(1883-08-30)30 August 1883
Utrecht, Netherlands

7 March 1931(1931-03-07) (aged 47)

Davos, Switzerland

painting, architecture, poetry

Early life[edit]

Theo van Doesburg was born Christian Emil Marie Küpper on 30 August 1883, in Utrecht, Netherlands, as the son of the photographer Wilhelm Küpper and Henrietta Catherina Margadant. After a short period of training in acting and singing, he decided to become a storekeeper. He always regarded his stepfather, Theodorus Doesburg, to be his natural father, so that his first works are signed with Theo Doesburg, to which he later added "van".

Last years[edit]

Van Doesburg stayed active in art groups and the magazine Cercle et Carré, which he left in 1929. "The plan to produce a magazine had been broached some time before. It is clear from the correspondence that in the spring of 1928 Van Doesburg made the first designs for the layout of the periodical. He wrote to Joaquín Torres-García on 28 May 1929 : I will prepare the blueprint fo nouveau plan."[8] Art Concret, which he co-founded in 1929, and Abstraction-Création, which he co-founded in 1931.[9] At the end of February 1931 he was forced to move to Davos in Switzerland because of his declining health. Van Doesburg did not recuperate: on 7 March 1931, he died of a heart attack. After his death Nelly van Doesburg released the last issue of De Stijl in January 1932, as a memorial issue, with contributions by old and new members from De Stijl.

Influence[edit]

Van Doesburg's work has had significant influence, including that dealing with issues of crossover art, design and architecture. For example, his Space-time construction #3 (1923) was a key work in the Miller Company Collection of Abstract Art's Painting toward architecture exhibition (1947–52, 28 venues).[10] From that time, the work was influential to the practice of noted architect Harry Seidler. In 1992, he acquired the artwork, which was donated to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra in 2010.[11] In a travelling, international exhibition on Seidler's work, Van Doesburg's Space time-construction #3 was shown as a key influence.[12]

(1974). Theo van Doesburg. London: Studio Vista. ISBN 0-289-70358-1.

Baljeu, Joost

Hoek, Els; Blokhuis, Marleen; Goovaerts, Ingrid; Kamphuys, Natalie; et al. (2000). Theo van Doesburg: Oeuvre Catalogus. Utrecht: . ISBN 90-6868-255-5.

Centraal Museum

(1969). De Stijl. Studio Vista. ISBN 0-289-79622-9.

Overy, Paul

White, Michael (2003). De Stijl and Dutch modernism. Manchester University Press.  0-7190-6162-8.

ISBN

Faassen, Sjoerd van en (2022), Ik sta helemaal alleen. Theo van Doesburg 1883-1931. Amsterdam, De Bezige Bij. ISBN 9789403134314.

Hans Renders

De Stijl

Scans of the De Stijl issue with Van Doesburg's Letterklankbeelden

Collection Rijksmuseum

Theo van Doesburg Archive: 'Archive of Theo van Doesburg and his wives'

Several original writings and articles by Theo van Doesburg

; J.M. Meulenhoff, Amsterdam 1956

Many sourced quotes of Theo van Doesburg in: De Stijl 1917–1931 – The Dutch Contribution to Modern Art, by H.L.C. Jaffé

Biography facts of Theo van Doesburg, in the Dutch R.K.D. Archive, the Hague