How did Theo van Doesburg collaborate with Hungarian avant-garde artists in the 1920s?

Theo van Doesburg, the Dutch founder of the De Stijl movement, collaborated with Hungarian avant-garde artists in the early 1920s through a dynamic, multi-faceted exchange that went beyond mere correspondence. This alliance was facilitated by van Doesburg's role as an editor and networker, actively seeking international connections to spread De Stijl's principles of abstraction and geometric purity. On the Hungarian side, key figures like Lajos Kassák (editor of the periodical 'Ma'), Sándor Bortnyik, László Moholy-Nagy, and László Péri were involved in radical art movements and sought global allies to advance their social and artistic visions. The collaboration involved sharing publications, such as issues of 'Ma' and De Stijl journals, which circulated ideas on constructivism and modernism. They also participated in joint exhibitions and maintained personal relationships, with van Doesburg visiting studios and engaging in theoretical discussions. This exchange was documented in archives at institutions like the Kassák Museum in Budapest and the Netherlands Institute for Art History, revealing it as a practical effort to build an international network that transcended national boundaries, blending Dutch and Hungarian avant-garde aesthetics to influence broader European modern art.

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