Counter composition X 1924

Theo van Doesburg composed "Counter Composition X" with oil on canvas, an arrangement of bold, primary-colored rectangles against a stark black ground. Here, the symbolic language pulses with the vital energy of modernity. Red, yellow, and blue—these archetypal colors are not merely hues but fundamental building blocks, echoing the divine and terrestrial realms. Like alchemical symbols, each color possesses its own psychological weight. We find this in antiquity, as in contemporary art. The grid and the geometric shapes present, call to mind the order and structure man imposes upon nature. It is the same spirit of innovation that once drove the creation of Gothic cathedrals. Consider, then, the psychological impact of these shapes. The rectangles and squares offer a sense of stability but in their non-symmetrical arrangements, they evoke tension. We can see these forms echoing through time, reappearing in various guises from ancient mosaics to modern architecture. This work encapsulates an eternal quest to understand the universe, and our place within it.