Carlsund och neoplasticismen

Abstract

Summary The Swedish painter Carlsund went to Paris in 1924 in order to study the mural painting of Cubism and Purism. He entered Léger's studio and became it's most admired and promising pupil. He developed in the teacher's spirit a cubistic style of exquisite elegance and lucidity. After having certain ideas in common with Ozenfant, C. came in contact with Neoplasticism. Mondrian invited him to his famous studio, where he listened to the pronouncements of the master. The article reports a statement made in 1927 by Mondrian concerning Neoplasticism, such as the Swedish painter remembered it. In this connection C. began to apply the doctrines of Neoplasticism. In 1929 he became acquainted with van Doesburg, who at that time began to dissociate himself from Mondrian. Together with van Doesburg, Hélion and others C. founded in 1929 the group “Art Concret”, which desired a synthesis of Neoplasticism and Purism. The following year C. arranged in Stockholm a remarkable exhibition of Art Concret, Neoplasticism, Cubism, Purism and Constructivism. It became in every respect a rebuff for C., who in consequence broke down and suffered from spiritual paralysis. For a long time he exchanged the brush for the pen and became an art critic. When Mondrian died in 1944, C. decided to devote himself entirely to painting, and during the last few years of his life he adopted a pure neoplasticist style. C. showed this in a one‐man exhibition in Stockholm in 1947, and he won high praise.