Georges Vantongerloo facts for kids

Georges Vantongerloo (born November 24, 1886, in Antwerp; died October 5, 1965, in Paris) was a Belgian artist. He was known for his abstract sculptures and paintings. He also helped start the famous De Stijl art group.

Early Life and Art Training

Georges Vantongerloo studied Fine Art at important art schools in Antwerp and Brussels. He attended these academies from 1905 to 1909. This training helped him develop his unique artistic style.

Joining the De Stijl Movement

During World War I, Vantongerloo was a soldier. He was hurt in a gas attack in 1914 and left the army. In 1916, he met another artist named Theo van Doesburg. The next year, Vantongerloo became a founding member of the De Stijl group. This group was known for its very simple, abstract art, using basic shapes and colors.

Later Career and Influence

In 1927, Vantongerloo moved to Paris, France. He even wrote to the Belgian Prime Minister, Henri Jaspar, about designing a bridge over the Scheldt River in Antwerp.

He continued to be active in the art world. In 1930, he joined the Cercle et Carré group in Paris. A year later, he helped create another important art group called Abstraction-Création. These groups focused on abstract art, which doesn't show things as they appear in real life.

From 1955, Vantongerloo became good friends with a Swedish sculptor named Gert Marcus. They shared a long friendship.

His Artistic Legacy

After Georges Vantongerloo passed away in 1965, his close friend Max Bill worked hard to keep his art and ideas remembered. Max Bill's wife, Angela Thomas Schmid, later created the Max Bill Georges Vantongerloo Stiftung. This foundation helps support the artistic work of both Vantongerloo and Bill. Today, a well-known art gallery called Hauser & Wirth helps share Vantongerloo's art with the world.