A small group of artists and architects bonded together around a series of positions stated in the De Stijl manifesto, and a De Stiji magazine as well as other art philosophy documents.

The movement revolved around the relationship the horizontal and the vertical as being the fundamental opposing tendencies of the earth (opposition), as well as the radiance of rays as they emanate from the sun (radiance). 

The point of view went into a color theory system revolving around the primary colors and their relationship and symbolic meaning. 

Yellow is the movement of the ray, blue is the horizontal line or firmament, and red is the meeting of the two tendencies. 

Yellow radiates, blue recedes and red floats.

As the movement gathered momentum the basic philosophy was translated into painting, drawing, architecture and furniture design. 

It was always very severe in its exclusive use of the limited types of lines and colors, but incorporated modular concepts, that in themselves would continue to evolve.