Elementarism developed as a counter-proposal to Piet Mondrian's (1872-1944) strict design principles of Neoplasticism. It is a modified form of Neoplasticism proposed by Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931), which he published in a manifesto in 1926. While Mondrian maintained his restriction to right angles, Elementalism abandoned the insistence on the exclusive use of strict horizontals and verticals and allowed diagonals as a design element. The introduction of inclined lines and forms made it possible to achieve greater dynamism in the composition of the picture.
