Theo van Doesburg by then already gained some attention with his paintings. Van Doesburg saw in these paintings his ideal in painting: a complete abstraction of reality. Soon after the exposition Van Doesburg got in contact with Mondrian, and together with related artists Bart van der Leck, , Vilmos Huszár and Jacobus Oud they founded the magazine "De Stijl" in 1917. Although De Stijl was made up of many members, Van Doesburg was the "ambassador" of the movement, promoting it across Europe. He moved to Weimar in 1922, deciding to make an impression on the Bauhaus principal, Walter Gropius, in order to spread
Nelly van Doesburg parents did not appreciate the association with Van Doesburg, who was not only Protestant, but also married. She ran away from home around the turn of the year from 1920-1921 and was received in Leiden by J.J.P. Oud and Van Doesburg's wife Lena Milius. During her relationship with Van Doesburg she was introduced to the world of modern art. Van Doesburg took her on a lecture tour through Europe in March 1921, during which they also visited Piet Mondriaan in Paris. From April 1921 she lived with Van Doesburg in Weimar. In December she spent a few weeks in Vienna