GERRIT RIETVELD, limited edition HOPMI chair

Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) was an eccentric furniture designer and minimalist, whose iconic creations and architectural achievements have left a lasting impact on modern design. At the young age of 12, Rietveld began learning the trade of furniture making in his father's workshop in Utrecht. Discontent with the ornate and massive furniture of the time, he dreamed of creating modern, simplified pieces. He later apprenticed with architect P.J.C. Klaarhamer, developing a strong, clear vision influenced by the De Stijl art movement, founded by Theo van Doesburg. Through contacts with De Stijl members like Robert van 't Hoff, Bart van der Leck, and van Doesburg himself, Rietveld's approach to design evolved. Rietveld became a versatile artist with a distinctive vision. His Red-Blue Chair, Zig-Zag Chair, Crate Furniture, and Press Room Chair have become iconic design classics, found in museums and modern interiors worldwide.

His early furniture designs were exploratory, focusing on construction, form, and materials. Later, many of his pieces emerged as part of architectural commissions, such as the Steltman Chair for the jeweler in The Hague. One of his most significant architectural works is the Rietveld Schröder House, a UNESCO World Heritage site, embodying De Stijl principles with its simplicity, rectilinear forms, and functionality. Despite initial public resistance, Rietveld's work gained widespread appreciation in the 1950s, thanks in part to major exhibitions at venues like the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His designs, characterized by their simplicity and suitability for mass production, remain an integral part of modern art and design. Each of Rietveld's creations carries a unique story.