Counter composition XVII 1926

Theo van Doesburg made "Counter composition XVII" using paint. I wonder what the 'counter' is all about? It looks to me like he was thinking about the diagonals, and how much energy they have. The black and white squares are cool, and the way the composition is cut off is also great—maybe he felt like it could have gone on forever? I get the sense that he was pushing against something, that there was an urgency for him to move beyond the square. Like, okay, we did the grid, but what’s next? He’s in conversation with Mondrian, but wants to find another way. I love that the painting feels like a question mark. I feel you Theo! This is how artists challenge each other – by taking cues and reformulating them in new ways.