What is the main goal of De Stijl as an art movement?

The main goal of De Stijl as an art movement is to reduce artwork into geometric shapes, lines, and primary colors. De Stijl, which emerged in the Netherlands in the early 20th century, sought to express a new aesthetic that reflected modernity and universal harmony through simple, abstract forms. Artists associated with De Stijl, such as Piet Mondrian, believed that by stripping away the complex details and using only fundamental elements—like geometric shapes (rectangles and squares) and a limited color palette of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) along with black, white, and gray—they could achieve a purer form of art that emphasized clarity and order.

This approach was informed by philosophical ideals that favored a universal language of design, aiming to create an art that transcended individual expression and connected with broader social and cultural movements. Consequently, the emphasis on geometric reduction and the primacy of color in De Stijl serves as a hallmark of the movement's goal to seek harmony through abstraction.