The artwork titled “Nelly van Doesburg Viewed from behind, and a harbor scene” was created by Theo van Doesburg in 1924 while in Germany. This piece, crafted with pencil, watercolor, and paper, belongs to the Dada art movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork features two distinct scenes. In the upper part, there is a minimalist depiction of a person viewed from behind. The subject’s head, accented with dark tones, dominates the composition, with subtle lines marking the neck and shoulders. The lower part of the artwork presents a harbor scene rendered in a similar minimalist style. The harbor sketch includes abstract representations of structures and boats, achieved through the use of swift, fluid brushstrokes, blending in tones of black and grey. The overall piece exhibits the characteristic spontaneity and experimental nature of the Dada movement.
