Artwork
Black Square (1930)
Black Square (1930) is an oil painting by the Suprematist artist Kazimir Malevich. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Kazimir Malevich's 1930 oil painting, Black Square, is a seminal work of Suprematism, a movement he founded. The painting features a black quadrilateral on a white background.
Subject & Meaning
The work is characterized by its simplicity and non-representational nature, comprising a single black form against a light gray background. It does not depict any recognizable subject, instead presenting a pure, abstract composition.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, Black Square showcases Malevich's use of bold, geometric forms and a limited color palette. The black quadrilateral is rendered with sharp, clean edges, while the surrounding background is a dull gray tone.
History & Provenance
Black Square is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection. Created in 1930, it represents a later iteration of Malevich's Suprematist ideals, which he first introduced in 1915.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (23 February 1879 – 15 May 1935) was a Russian avant-garde artist and art theorist, whose work and writings pioneered the development of abstract painting in the 20th century.
