Still Life 1917 - 1923

Theo van Doesburg made this abstract still life with oil paint, and it’s got a real process-y feel to it, doesn't it? The colors are really striking – these bold reds, yellows, and blacks, all hanging out on this off-white ground. You can almost feel van Doesburg figuring things out as he went along. Look how flat the paint is, how deliberately un-blended and even the surface feels. For me the black lozenge in the center stands out; it is like a mysterious form that anchors the whole composition. It contrasts so strongly with the smoothness of the surrounding shapes, and it's a good reminder that art is always a conversation, right? I mean, think about Mondrian, with his grids and primary colors – you can see van Doesburg playing with those ideas, but pushing them in his own direction. It’s less about perfection, and more about the messy, beautiful process of making.