"In addition, 'Elementarism' is real instead of abstract. The use of the term 'abstract' also caused much misunderstanding. This is easily explained.. .As used in connection with visual methods of expression, the term 'abstract' is extremely relative. 'To abstract' something implies one of those mental activities (in contrast to emotional spontaneity) through which certain [aesthetic] values are isolated from the world of reality. However, when such values were realized visually and applied as purely constructive means, they became real. Thus the abstract was transformed into the real, thereby illustrating the relativity of the former term. Hence, the term ‘abstract-real’ [proposed by his former artist-fellow Piet Mondrian,] was a fortunate invention, although in reference to a new orientation [van Doesburg's new art orientation 'Elementarism'] the term 'real' is sufficient. The period of abstraction is at an end. Is not an elementary painting, which is to say a certain composition of plane-linear colours, organic in itself, more concrete..."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Quote from Van Doesburg's article 'Elementarism as real art', in: 'Painting and plastic art' - Rome, July 1926, in De Stijl', series XIII, 1 75-6, 1926, pp. 35–43
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Theo_van_Doesburg
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Theo van Doesburg
Theo van Doesburg (30 August 1883 – 7 March 1931) was a Dutch artist, practicing in painting, writing, poetry and architecture. He is best known as the founder and leader of De Stijl together with Piet Mondrian. Later he engaged himself more with Dadaism, in cooperation with Kurt Schwitters and Hans Arp.
59 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Theo van Doesburg →
Related Quotes
"'To abstract' something implies one of those mental activities (in contrast to emotional spontaneity) through which c…"
"Piet Mondrian realizes the importance of line. The line has almost become a work of art in itself; one can not play w…"
"..modern destruction begins where architectural structure is opened up and set into motion by colour relationships. T…"
"Since all preceding schools of painting have proved that the spirit of beauty does not lie in nature but in the 'I', …"
"European art [however] has developed from mimetic-ism and only today is arriving at an elementary plastic art."
"However, Man as the appearance of utmost internality, of spirit, does not possess any point in front, at the side or …"
"For – to say a few words on technique – whereas the curved line was used predominantly for reasons of beauty, (Phidia…"
"..art and life are no longer separate domains.. .The word 'art' no longer has anything to say to us. In place of that…"
"The development of plastic art is determined by the will to visualize. Art of the past represented the subjective vis…"
"The problem which Mondrian undertook to solve in nr. 116 [a new painting of Mondrian, exhibited in a group-exhibition…"