Fine Art

Stained-Glass Composition: Female Head — History & Facts

Stained-Glass Composition: Female Head by Theo van Doesburg is a geometric stained glass work created between May and July 1917. The composition is made up of rectangular panels in hues of blue, green, white, and grey, arranged within a black framework. The design uses a grid structure, with blocks of color placed in a vertical and horizontal alignment.

No representational features are visible; the forms are entirely abstract, with color fields distributed asymmetrically across the surface. This work was made during a period when Theo van Doesburg was closely associated with the development of the De Stijl movement in the Netherlands. Stained glass was a medium that several De Stijl artists explored as a way of expressing their theories of abstraction and harmony. The piece is dated to 1917 and is associated with a postcard in its current documented collection.

The simplified geometric language and use of primary and secondary colors reflect the movement’s interest in universal visual principles.

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