Simultaneous Counter Composition 1929

Theo van Doesburg made this painting, Simultaneous Counter Composition, using oil paint in a style that rejected naturalistic depiction in favour of pure abstraction. See how he builds the image with flat areas of colour and straight black lines? It's all about essential forms. The way he layers the paint is interesting. It’s not trying to trick you into thinking it's anything other than paint on a surface. The red square in the lower left corner really grounds the composition, while the green in the upper right is like a little spark of energy, contained but vibrant. These colours feel like a response to Mondrian, but with a little more freedom. Like he's saying, "Yeah, I can do that, but I can also tilt it a bit." It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, with artists responding to and playing off each other’s ideas.