Colour design for a chimney 1917

Theo van Doesburg designed this Colour design for a chimney, using paint to explore color and form. It’s so interesting to think about this as a design – something to be built and lived with. The geometric shapes, mostly rectangles, are laid out in a rigid, almost architectural way, but the colors feel more playful. There’s a clear interest in how the blocks of color interact and create rhythm. It’s not just about filling in the shapes, but about the relationships between them. I love how the surface has a kind of flatness, which gives it a graphic, almost poster-like quality. This reminds me of Malevich, who was also interested in the power of simple shapes and colors, though van Doesburg has a more decorative sensibility, perhaps. Ultimately this piece feels like a conversation, an artist playing with ideas, and inviting us to join in.