International Congress of Progressive Artists


International Congress of Progressive Artists was organised by Young Rhineland, with help from the November Group, the Darmstadt Secession and the Dresden Secession in Düsseldorf, 29-31 May 1922. The aim of creating an international organisation of radical artists led to differing conceptions of how this should be done. Theo van Doesburg wrote "A short review of the proceedings" which included a proclamation calling for a permanent, universal, international exhibition of art from everywhere in the world and an annual universal, international music festival. With the slogan Artists of all nationalities unite’ they declared that "Art must become international or it will perish". According to van Doesburg, when those who refused to sign this proclamation were threatened with exclusion, this led to uproar.

Intervention by the International Constructivist Faction

The conflict around the proclamation was, according to van Doesburg, was resolved by the International Constructivist Faction, which consisted of van Doesburg himself, El Lissitzky and Hans Richter. In the end the proclamation was signed by the following groups and individuals: