Philosophy

De Stijl founders and artists believed there was a utopian approach to aesthetics through function, line, specific colors, their De Stijl magazine, and four main concepts. The first major concept was historicism in which art of the past and present are evident in and become part of everyday life. The second major concept was essentialism or elementarisation in which the art refers to the essence at the core rather than using unnecessary elements.  The third major concept was integration in which all elements must be balanced and equal. The last and fourth major concept was collaboration with other artists, styles and movements, mainly architecture. Those who were followers of De Stijl tried to keep De Stijl in all aspects of their lives. When a leader in the movement, Rietveld Schröder, designed a house, he not only designed for the building itself but also for all the things inside the house. He designed every piece of the house as proof of the De Stijl way of life.