Axonometric drawing of the house in Meudon 

Theo van Doesburg made this axonometric drawing of the house in Meudon with graphite on paper. The lines are simple, almost technical. It's clearly a design in progress rather than a finished rendering. What’s interesting is how this straightforward approach to materials relates to van Doesburg's broader aims. As a proponent of De Stijl, he sought a universal visual language, free from subjective expression. The precise lines and geometric forms, devoid of ornamentation, reflect this aspiration. The drawing almost feels like a blueprint for a new, rationalized society. But of course, even the simplest drawing involves labor. Someone had to hold the pencil, make the marks, and translate an idea into a tangible form. The means of production, in this case, are humble, yet they carry the weight of van Doesburg’s utopian vision. It's a reminder that even the most abstract art is rooted in the physical world and the human hand.