Composition with half values 1928

Theo van Doesburg made this painting, Composition with half values, using oil on canvas. The neat arrangement of the blue, yellow and white rectangles are carefully divided by a grid of black lines that remind me of window panes. I love the way he's used the different tones to create a sense of depth and space, even though it's all flat, you know? The surface has a slightly textured feel. You can almost see the little brushstrokes where the paint was applied. Then there’s that thick, almost velvety blue square – it pulls you right in! It’s these kinds of subtle variations and color choices that create a push-pull effect across the painting. Van Doesburg and Mondrian were good friends, but Doesburg broke with Mondrian's theories by reintroducing diagonals into his work. I always feel art is an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas and both artists embraced that ambiguity and multiple interpretations.