M. H. J. Schoenmaekers

[1] He was appointed as professor of philosophy at Rolduc Abbey, Netherlands, but this was terminated shortly afterwards, owing to his inability to control the students.

For a short time he was the assistant to a pastor in Munstergeleen, before leaving in February 1901 to study Dutch literature at the university in Amsterdam.

This venture was terminated in September 1901 by his bishop, who appointed him the headmaster of the boarding school of Franciscan sisters in Bunde, Netherlands.

Schoenmaekers found the Catholic Church in Rome an oppressive organisation with little room for genuine religious experience.

After writing The New World View in 1915, and Principles of Visual Mathematics in 1916, he succeeded in influencing several avant-garde artists living in Laren.

[1] In Laren, he confined himself to explaining his ideas and philosophy to a small group of followers, most of whom found him endearing and friendly.

Two of his most influential books were: Het Nieuwe Wereldbeeld [4] (The New Worldview [3]) in 1915 and Beginselen der beeldende wiskunde [5] (Principles of Visual Mathematics) [6] in 1916, both of which influenced Piet Mondrian's art theory of Neoplasticism and the De Stijl group.