ABSTRACT

It is readily assumed that just before the outbreak of the First World War, intellectuals and artists were pacifists.1 Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg, for instance, published many articles which conveyed his pacifist convictions. However, comparative biographical research has shown that Van Doesburg’s views were not representative of those of his peers. This chapter will show how a modernist artist’s seemingly representative view turns out to be rather unique, thanks to biographical research. The concept of a ‘turning point’ as an argument for partial biography – a moment or an event in a person’s life that influences that person’s subsequent public deeds or actions – serves here as an important biographical-methodological aid.