Theo van Doesburg

This monograph, authored by Evert van Straaten and published in 1988, serves as a comprehensive study of the Dutch artist and theorist Theo van Doesburg. Commissioned during a period of renewed academic interest in De Stijl, the book was produced to synthesize Van Doesburg’s multifaceted career as a painter, architect, and writer. It contextualizes his pivotal role in the European avant-garde, specifically his attempts to bridge the gap between pure abstraction and functional design through his magazine, De Stijl.

The publication benefits from the archival depth of the Kröller-Müller Museum, where Van Straaten served as a curator. The design reflects the clean, structured aesthetic associated with the modernist movement, prioritizing clarity and archival integrity. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by art historians and scholars for its ability to organize the often fragmented legacy of Van Doesburg’s work into a cohesive narrative, establishing itself as a standard reference for understanding his influence on 20th-century geometric abstraction.