“Contra-Composition of Dissonances, XVI” is an abstract artwork created in 1925 by Theo van Doesburg in Germany. The medium employed is oil on canvas, with dimensions measuring 180 x 100 cm. This piece is a representative example of the Neoplasticism art movement and is currently housed in the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, located in The Hague, Netherlands.
The artwork features a balanced yet dynamic composition consisting of overlapping and interlocking geometric shapes, primarily rectangles and parallelograms, set against a neutral background. Bold lines, articulated in black, outline each shape, creating a distinct separation between them while enhancing their individual presence. The color palette consists of primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—alongside shades of gray and black, reflecting the Neoplasticism movement’s emphasis on simplicity and abstraction. The deliberate placement and color choices evoke a sense of rhythm and harmony, embodying the aesthetic principles championed by van Doesburg and his contemporaries. The composition’s inherent linearity and balance, free from representational constraints, invites viewers to appreciate the fundamental elements of form, color, and space.
