Composition XXI 1923

Theo van Doesburg made this painting, Composition XXI, with oil on canvas. I can imagine him working on it – the studio filled with the smell of oil paint, wrestling with the shapes and colours. How the simple act of applying paint could become a profound statement, it’s kind of mind-blowing, right? Van Doesburg was clearly in dialogue with Mondrian but wanted to push past pure verticality. The asymmetrical balance is weirdly off-kilter, just a bit – like a jazz chord. He has this knack for making the grid feel alive, you know? There’s a conversation happening here, not just with Mondrian but with the whole history of painting. Van Doesburg isn’t just copying or following; he’s thinking, questioning, and pushing back. It’s like he’s saying, “Okay, we’ve got the rules, now let’s see what we can do with them.”