Berlin Chair

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• quirine kerkhoffs asked

  hi, I have a few questions about this artwork: how and what doe it do?, how are the materials connected?, who wants to use or buy it?, where is it normally used?, who does it look like? that are my questions can you answer them please and inform me as quick as possible! kind regards Q. Kerkhoffs

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Quirine, This is a chair designed by the Dutch architect and furniture maker Gerrit Rietveld. It is called 'Berlin Chair' because it was presented in an exhibition in Berlin in 1923. The chair is meant as a chair, so you can sit in it. But it is not very comfortable. When Rietveld designed this chair he was very much involved with avant-garde art and contributed to De Stijl magazine. He wanted to make pieces of furniture (and houses) that would contribute to future society. This new society should be light and clear, life should be dynamic and people should be active. To emphasize this he stated "to sit is a verb". He also wanted that his furniture would be accessible for people with little money, so therefor he did not use expensive wood upholstered with luxury fabric. The thin plates of multiplex are connected by mortise and tenon joints. I hope all your questions are answered now. All best, Els.