Theo van Doesburg. Postcard to Evert Rinsema, 1921

Original postcard with typography by Theo van Doesburg. 9.2 x 14.2 cm, printed black and red on recto only. Mailed copy postmarked Leiden 13.12.21. Recto addressed to Den Heer Evert Rinsema in Dragten Friesland, verso handwritten letter to 'Rins' and signed 'Does'. Two tiny clean tears caused by embossed postal stamp, not impacting the writing.

During their military mobilisation (1914-1916), van Doesburg, founder of De Stijl in 1917, became friends with Evert Rinsema, shoemaker, poet and philosopher from Drachten. An extensive correspondence developed (1915-1931) in which they exchanged ideas about art and society. The text on the postcard refers to a dispute ignited by a newspaper journalist who criticized van Doesburg's use of colour in his design for a housing project in the city of Drachten. Full transcription in K. Schippers Holland Dada Querido 2000 p. 221. Provenance: collection K. Schippers.