Theo van Doesburg Theo van Doesburg Theo van Doesburg (, 30 August 1883 – 7 March 1931) was a Dutch artist, who practiced painting, writing, poetry and architecture. He is best known as the founder and leader of De Stijl. He was married to artist, pianist and choreographer Nelly van Doesburg. Theo van Doesburg was born Christian Emil Marie Küpper on 30 August 1883, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, as the son of the photographer and Henrietta Catherina Margadant. After a short training in acting and singing he decided to become a painter. He always regarded his stepfather, Theodorus Doesburg, to be his natural
Piet van der Sanden camp near Hannover in Germany. Shortly after the war ended he joined the British intelligence service. Between 1945 and 1947 he worked as a translator for British occupying forces in Germany. While there Van der Sanden met his future wife. Between 1947 and 1960 he worked as a journalist first for the "De Nieuwe Zuidhollander" and later for "Het Binnenhof". Starting in 1960 he worked as a parliamentary journalist for "Unitas- en Persuniecombinatie". His work in this position lasted until 1966. Van der Sanden became politically involved in 1966 when he became parliamentary advisor and secretary to the Catholic People's