Before he was a rock star known for his distinctive black, white, and red aesthetic, Jack White was a furniture upholsterer obsessed with the early 20th century Dutch abstract art movement De Stijl championed by the likes of Gerrit Rietveld and Piet Mondrian. So much so, he named his cult classic album De Stijl and, in his spare time, continues to operate Jack White Art & Design. White recently visited Rietveld’s house in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on the occasion of a new book celebrating its centenary, Rietveld Schröder House: A Biography of the House, which is challenging long-held narratives about this architectural landmark.
This 896-page, bilingual (English and Dutch) volume, designed by Irma Boom, reevaluates the roles of Rietveld and Truus Schröder in creating the iconic Rietveld Schröder House. Traditionally, Schröder has been seen as Rietveld’s muse, but authors Jessica van Geel and Natalie Dubois present a compelling case for her as a pivotal creative force.
Cover Rietveld Schröder House – A biography of the house, design Irma Boom Office, 2024.
Dive Into The History of The Rietveld Schröder House
Van Gell and Dubois delve into the house’s history, from its inception and construction to its life through the war years and its modern-day status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Drawing on previously unpublished photographs, drawings, designs, and letters, the authors paint a vivid picture of the house’s vibrant history and the dynamic between Rietveld and Schröder. Notably, their research highlights Schröder’s significant contributions, arguing that her creative vision was crucial to their joint projects.
The publication challenges “ingrained assumptions about the design process,” questioning the extent to which Schröder’s role has been underestimated. Van Geel, who previously published a biography of Schröder titled I love you, Rietveld, has already suggested that Schröder’s influence on the Rietveld Schröder House and Rietveld’s other designs was substantial. This new book builds upon that foundation, providing a rich source of archival documents that further illuminate her contributions.
Truus Schröder, probably photographed in Rietveld’s studio on the Oudegracht, 1940s, © Centraal Museum Utrecht / Rietveld Schröder Archive.
Gerrit Rietveld, c. 1941 © Centraal Museum Utrecht / Rietveld Schröder Archive.
The book’s design itself is a tribute to the house, reflecting the innovative spirit of Rietveld and Schröder’s architecture. The use of two languages—English in black and Dutch in blue—conveys the house’s national and international significance. As the artistic director of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht notes, the book aims to show the “life, the conversations, the work, the love, the tensions, the peace and quiet, and the noise” that filled the house for decades.
Schröder lived in the house from its completion in 1925 until her death in 1985. It was where she raised her children, sheltered people during World War II, and eventually lived with Rietveld. The book reveals that Schröder was not just a client but an “architecte d’intérieur,” designing interiors and furniture and actively participating in Rietveld’s architectural commissions. She also contributed to the De Stijl movement, gave lectures, and helped organize exhibitions.
Rietveld Schröder House: A Biography of the House is an essential reference for those interested in modern architecture, art history, and revolutionary design. It offers a fresh perspective on a well-known architectural icon, emphasizing the previously underestimated role of Schröder and providing a deeper understanding of the collaborative genius behind this modernist masterpiece.
A Fresh Perspective On This Modernist Icon
Schröder House with the white rooftop room, late 1930s, © Centraal Museum Utrecht / Rietveld Schröder Archive / Gift of Maarten Schröder.
Rietveld Schröder House (Centraal Museum collection, Utrecht), 2018. Photography by Stijn Poelstra.
Authors Jessica van Geel (l) and Natalie Dubois (r) © Centraal Museum / Wessel Spoelder.