Abstract portrait 1915

This 'Abstract Portrait' was painted by Theo van Doesburg, we think, around the early 20th century. It's all about how those cool, muted colors and simple shapes come together, which tells me he was super into the process of making art itself. The painting’s surface is a bit of a puzzle – the paint isn’t too thick, not too thin. It's like he's playing with how much to reveal, how much to hide. Take a look at the eye. It's made up of simple shapes, but there's a depth there, an invitation to look closer. It's like he's saying, "Here's a face, but it's also so much more." Van Doesburg reminds me a bit of Mondrian, but with a more playful edge. He's not just painting what he sees, but how he sees and how he wants us to see too. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist, the work, and us.