GERRIT RIETVELD, 1917
OBJECT
The Red and Blue Chair, created by Dutch designer and architect Gerrit Rietveld in 1917, is the object symbol of the De Stijl art movement. It emphasizes simplicity, abstraction, and primary colors and incorporates the principles that guided the Dutch movement.
Recognized as a one of the most important design object in the history of 20th-century design, the Red and Blue Chair stands as a symbol of modernist design and the close relationship between art and design.
Rietveld started the project for the chair when he joined the De Stijl group with Theo van Doesburg and Mondrian. The group’s philosophy abandoned decoration, similarly to other forces within the Modern Movement that were developing in other parts of Europe at the time. The new aesthetic sought proportional and harmonious relationships between elements, and the use of primary colors to create an ideal space.
While van Doesburg and Mondrian explored these relationships between forms and colors in their paintings, Rietveld did so in his furniture prototypes. This is why the Red and Blue Chair is considered a work of art that reveals in three dimensions what Mondrian expressed on his canvases.
RED AND BLUE CHAIR: THE PROJECT
Characterized by its red, blue, yellow, and black palette, Rietveld’s famous chair is made from a solid beech wood frame, while the seat and backrest are crafted from birch plywood. In 1917, Rietveld reimagined the classic club chair, stripping it of all decorative elements such as upholstery and coverings, leaving only the bare structure visible.
The chair’s design is devoid of any ornamentation, reflecting the neoplastic principles of De Stijl in a functional, three-dimensional object. The Red and Blue Chair, like many of Rietveld’s other projects including the Steltman Chair and the Zig-Zag Chair, has a strong sculptural quality that is further emphasized by its color palette—black for the frame, red for the backrest, blue for the seat, and yellow for the finishing elements on the wooden slats.
Today, Rietveld’s chair is considered a masterpiece of Neoplasticism, an enduring example of the De Stijl movement’s principles, and the crowning achievement of the Dutch architect. It is collected by the most prestigious design museums in the world, including the MoMA in New York, the Vitra Design Museum, the Triennale di Milano, and many others.
CASSINA EDITION
Today, Rietveld’s famous sculptural chair is produced by Cassina as part of the “i Maestri” series, a collection that reissues classics from the history of design. This series includes not only the great Dutch architect but also other giants of 20th-century design, such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, and Mackintosh.
Cassina began production in 1973, starting from the original designs of the Dutch master and meticulously adhering to the original plans. Each original Red and Blue Chair features the Cassina logo, a serial number, and Rietveld’s signature on one of the lower slats.
GERRIT RIETVELD
Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) was a designer and architect from Utrecht, a key figure in neoplasticism and the De Stijl movement. In addition to the UNESCO-listed Rietveld Schröder House and numerous architectural projects, Rietveld designed furniture throughout his career. His Red and Blue Chair is a symbol of 20th-century modernist design.
CASSINA
Founded in 1927 in Brianza by brothers Cesare and Umberto, Cassina is a benchmark for Italian design, thanks to famous collaborations with Gio Ponti, Vico Magistretti, Achille Castiglioni, and today’s leading contemporary designers. With the “I Maestri” line, Cassina also produces iconic pieces of early modernist design, such as those by Mackintosh, Rietveld, and Le Corbusier.
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Details
Prodotta da Cassina
Overall Width: 69 cm
Overall Depth: 83 cm
Overall Height: 88 cm
Seat Width: 65.5 cm
Seat Height: 33 cm
Frame: Made from solid beech wood, the frame relies exclusively on a system of wooden joints and dowels. The finish is matte black polyester paint, with the ends of the crossbars painted either yellow or white.
Seat and Backrest: Constructed from birch plywood panels with beech veneer surfaces. The seat is lacquered in blue polyester paint, and the backrest is lacquered in red.
