“Study for Counter Composition X,” created by Theo van Doesburg in 1924 in Germany, is an exemplary artwork of the Neoplasticism art movement. Classified as a sketch and study, it is currently housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The artwork manifests a strong geometric abstraction typical of Neoplasticism. Dominating the composition is a rectangular form centrally placed against a neutral backdrop. The primary palette includes a muted shade of red, sections of black, a narrow blue strip on the left, and a large grid-patterned yellowish segment towards the bottom. The clean, linear separation of colors adheres to the principles of balance and purity emphasized in Neoplasticism. Bold, black lines frame the colored areas, creating sharp contrasts and a clear structural form. The subtleties in texture and grid details in the yellow portion introduce an element of intricacy within the otherwise stark composition. The handwritten elements and catalog number at the top underscore its nature as a study rather than a finalized piece.
