Composition with half values 1928

This square canvas, about 50 x 50 cm, of ‘Composition with Half Values’ was painted by Theo van Doesburg, but we don’t know exactly when! It’s so minimal. Looking at the composition of coloured squares and rectangles held together by black lines, I wonder what it was like to make. Did van Doesburg start with the grid and then add blocks of colour – a bright blue, a muted yellow, and various greys? Or did he start with the colours first? I can imagine him, brush in hand, carefully filling in each section, trying to get the edges just right. It reminds me of Mondrian, of course. Those guys were really onto something, exploring how basic shapes and colours can create such a dynamic visual experience. These paintings create a way of seeing the world, somehow. Van Doesburg and others were in constant conversation, pushing and pulling at the boundaries of art. They were onto something.