Gerrit Rietveld: Pioneer of Geometric Abstraction and Functional Modernism Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888 – 1964) stands as a monumental figure in Dutch architectural history and a pivotal innovator within the De Stijl movement. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, his formative years instilled in him a deep appreciation for craftsmanship honed by his father’s trade as a joiner—a skill that would profoundly inform his groundbreaking designs. Early Life & Education: Rietveld pursued formal education through night school and diligently practiced draughtsmanship under the tutelage of C. J. Begeer,…