Kazimir Malevich: A Look at the Life and Career of the Pioneer of Abstract Art
Kazimir Malevich is credited as one of the pioneers of abstract art and the founder of
Suprematism, an artistic movement that focused on geometric shapes and vibrant colors to express emotion and spirituality. However, not much is known about his early life and education.
In this article, we will explore Malevich’s upbringing, his artistic influences, and his career as a painter.
Early Life and Education
Born on February 23, 1879, in Kiev, Ukraine, Kazimir Malevich was the eldest of fourteen children. His parents, Ludwika and Seweryn Malewicz, were ethnic Poles who moved to Kiev in the late 19th century.
Malevich’s father worked as a sugar mill manager and instilled artistic interests in his son at a young age. Malevich’s early years were spent in a household that valued cultural and artistic pursuits, such as theatre and opera.
He was exposed to the city’s cultural scene through his father’s job, which allowed him to attend many art exhibitions and meet professional artists. These early encounters sparked his interest in art and his future career as a painter.
Early Artistic Influences
Malevich’s exposure to the city’s bustling art scene shaped his artistic vision. In his formative years, he was particularly drawn to the works of the Kyiv School of Art and the Russian avant-garde.
He also admired the works of Mikhail Vrubel, a prominent artist known for his use of vivid colors and intricate designs. Malevich’s early artworks reveal his keen interest in portraiture and the human form, which he explored through academic realism.
He was intrigued by the human anatomy and its ability to convey emotion through movement and gesture. These early influences helped shape his future artistic projects.
Artistic Career and Influences
Education and Training
Malevich studied art at the Kyiv School of Art, where he honed his skills in painting and drawing. He went on to attend the Stroganov School of Art in Moscow, where he studied under the guidance of the renowned painter and art historian Fedor Ivanovich Rerberg.
At the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, Malevich studied the techniques of the old masters, such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci, refining his art composition and style.
Artistic Groups and Exhibitions
Malevich played an active role in various artistic groups and movements throughout his career. He was a member of The Knave of Diamonds, a group that focused on the synthesis of artistic forms, and participated in exhibitions with The Jack of Diamonds and The Donkeys Tail.
However, his greatest contribution was to the
Suprematism movement, a unique artistic style that he developed in 1915. The Suprematist style was characterized by the use of geometric shapes, such as squares, circles, and triangles, that represented the fundamental building blocks of human perception.
According to Malevich, these shapes could be used to create a new visual language, one that transcended traditional forms of representation and focused on the spiritual and emotional aspects of the artwork. Malevich’s most famous work is his 1915 painting, Black Square, which is considered a masterpiece of the Suprematist movement.
The painting features a black square on a white background, which symbolizes the void, the absence of everything except pure feeling. Black Square is regarded as a seminal work of abstract art and a turning point in Malevich’s artistic career.
Malevich continued to participate in exhibitions and contribute to artistic groups until his death in 1935. His vast body of work continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts across the world.
Conclusion
Kazimir Malevich’s contributions to modern art are immeasurable. His innovative approach and unique style helped pave the way for the development of abstract art.
This article has explored Malevich’s early life, his artistic influences, and his career as a painter, shedding light on his early interests and the factors that shaped his art. Malevich’s legacy remains as a testament to his artistic genius and his groundbreaking vision.
3) Malevich’s Manifesto:
Suprematism and New Painterly Realism
Kazimir Malevich’s contributions to modern art are significant, mainly because he developed the
Suprematism movement, which became a precursor to abstract art. In 1915, Malevich introduced the world to the concept of non-representational art, which centered on the use of geometric shapes and pure feeling.
In this section, we will look at his manifesto and explore the theoretical concepts and practical applications of
Suprematism and New Painterly Realism.of
Suprematism
Suprematism is an art movement characterized by non-representational art, where artists abstracted geometric shapes such as squares and circles. Malevich is famous for his Suprematist compositions, such as Black Square (1915), White on White (1918), and Red Square (1915).
These compositions embody the Suprematist spirit of pure feeling and transcendental values, as they represent nothing in the material world but exists as a manifestation of a spiritual world. The theoretical concept of
Suprematism is rooted in the fundamental idea of pure feeling.
According to Malevich, art should evoke purely emotional and spiritual responses, rejecting the residual attachments to traditional forms of representation. Black Square, in particular, is an embodiment of Malevich’s idea of pure feeling.
It is a square that represents the ultimate void, conveying no literal representation beyond its reality as a physical object.
Theoretical Concepts
New Painterly Realism is a term Malevich used to describe his style of art as opposed to academic art. The term also denotes art that pays attention to the creative process and allows for an experience in pure feelings.
In his theoretical works, Malevich proposed that art should be an expression of pure feeling, without relying on representational art or anything in the external world. In the Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings 0,10, Malevich presented a series of abstract works and manifestos that expressed his vision of the world.
Suprematism emphasizes fundamental shapes, including squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles, which express absolute harmony, balance, and pure feeling. For Malevich, each geometric shape has a specific meaning; a square represents materiality, a circle represents infinity, and a triangle represents transcendentalism.
Practical Applications
In his works, Malevich explored the use of geometry and color to create compositions that evoke pure feeling. His compositions were primarily non-representational and focused on the interplay of shapes, lines, and color to create visually appealing compositions.
Black Square, which is perhaps the most famous work in Malevich’s oeuvre, is a black square set against a white background. The painting represents the ultimate example of the Suprematist ideal of pure feeling and a rejection of traditional forms of representation.
Similarly, White on White, another famous work by Malevich, is a painting of a white square on a white background, which creates an ethereal and transcendent atmosphere. Overall, Malevich’s
Suprematism movement and his manifesto represent the rejection of conventional representational art and celebrate the potential of geometric shapes and pure feeling.
Malevich’s influence on modern art and his contribution to the creation of abstract art cannot be overstated, and his works continue to inspire artists and art enthusiasts today. 4) Artistic Characteristics of Malevich’s Work
Kazimir Malevich’s artistic journey began with impressionism, passed through symbolist tendencies, Cubism, Fauvism, and other influential styles before settling for
Suprematism.
Thus, his art is a constant evolution of symbols, color, and form, rooted in the fundamental principles of each artistic style. In this section, we will explore the early artistic styles that shaped Malevich’s work and his contributions to
Suprematism.
Early Artistic Styles
Malevich’s early artistic styles were influenced by a diverse range of movements, including impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and symbolism. During his time at the Kyiv School of Art, he was exposed to impressionism and Fauvism, which emphasized bright colors and bold brushstrokes.
Malevich admired the works of Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, French artists who were part of the Fauvism movement. Malevich’s interest in symbolism began after he moved to Moscow and began studying at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture.
Symbolism emphasized the connection between art and spirituality, and Malevich was drawn to the use of imagery and symbolism to convey complex emotional states.
Suprematism
Suprematism was founded by Malevich in 1915, and it became his signature style. The movement was characterized by the use of geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, and circles, to create compositions that represent transcendental values and pure feeling.
One of Malevich’s most celebrated works, Black Square, is an example of Malevich’s Suprematist style. The painting features a black square on a white background, which represents the void, the absence of everything except pure feeling.
Malevich’s Suprematist compositions reflected his belief in the power of art to evoke complex spiritual and emotional responses without relying on traditional forms of representation.
Suprematism was a unique artistic style that rejected conventional art forms and celebrated the potential of geometric shapes to convey deeper meanings.
Conclusion
Kazimir Malevich’s career spanned various artistic styles, from impressionism to
Suprematism. His contributions to modern art are seminal, with
Suprematism becoming a forerunner of the abstract art movement.
Malevich’s art was characterized by its use of geometric shapes and an emphasis on pure feeling and transcendental values. The principles of
Suprematism embody a unique artistic vision that celebrates the potential of art to evoke complex emotional responses.
Malevich’s influence on modern art is undeniable, and his legacy continues to inspire artists across the world.
5) Important Exhibitions
Kazimir Malevich’s artwork has been exhibited in various noteworthy exhibitions throughout history. In this section, we will explore two of these exhibitions, namely, The Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings 0,10 and Malevich and the American Legacy.
The Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings 0,10 was held in December 1915 in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg) at the Dobychina Art Bureau. Malevich was one of the primary organizers of the exhibition, which was dedicated to the introduction of new art forms to Russia.
The exhibition was a pivotal moment for Malevich and the Suprematist movement, as it showcased groundbreaking works that featured geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, and circles. Malevich exhibited a series of paintings in the exhibition that featured these geometric shapes, including his iconic work, Black Square.
This work was unlike anything that had been seen before, and it quickly became a point of controversy in the art world. Despite mixed reviews, the exhibition marked the beginning of the Suprematist movement and cemented Malevich’s status as a pioneer of abstract art.
Malevich and the American Legacy was an exhibition that took place in 2013 at the Gagosian Gallery in New York. The exhibition featured works by contemporary American artists who had been influenced by Malevich’s
Suprematism.
The exhibition aimed to demonstrate the continued relevance of Malevich’s work to contemporary artists and the broader art world. The exhibition featured works by notable artists such as Dan Flavin, Robert Ryman, and Donald Judd.
These artists had been influenced by Malevich’s use of geometric shapes and minimalist style, as well as his emphasis on pure feeling. The exhibition aimed to highlight the continued relevance of Malevich’s work and the impact that it has had on contemporary art.
6) Kazimir Malevich Artworks
Kazimir Malevich created a vast array of artworks throughout his career, ranging from his early Symbolism and Impressionism works to his groundbreaking Suprematist compositions. In this section, we will explore some of his most famous works from these periods.
Early Works
Landscape with a Yellow House (1904-1905) is one of Malevich’s earliest works and is considered a prime example of his early Impressionist style. The painting features a rural scene, with a yellow house serving as the central focus of the composition.
Malevich’s use of light and color in this work reflects his admiration for the Impressionist style. The Triumph of Heaven (1912) is an example of Malevich’s Symbolism period.
The painting features a medieval knight battling a dragon, surrounded by a celestial landscape. The composition is full of intricate details and serves as an excellent example of Malevich’s ability to create emotionally intense works that rely heavily on symbolism.
Suprematist Works
Black Square (1915) is the most celebrated work in Malevich’s oeuvre and a symbol of the
Suprematism movement. The painting features a black square set against a white background, which represents the ultimate void and pure feeling.
Black Square is a simple yet powerful composition that has had a profound impact on the art world and remains a significant work in the history of abstract art. Painterly Realism of a Peasant Woman in Two Dimensions (Red Square) (1915) is another significant work by Malevich.
The painting features a red square on a white background, which represents feeling expressed through form. This work exemplifies Malevich’s belief that art should be an expression of pure feeling and the use of simple geometric shapes to convey these feelings.
Supremus No. 56 (1916) is an example of Malevich’s Suprematist compositions that feature dynamic arrangements of geometric shapes in space. The painting depicts cubes and rectangles intersecting with one another to form a dynamic composition.
The work serves as an excellent example of Malevich’s use of geometric shapes to convey spiritual and emotional concepts.
Conclusion
Kazimir Malevich was one of the foremost pioneers of abstract art, and his contributions have had a profound impact on the art world. The artworks that he created throughout his career remain essential works in the history of art and continue to inspire artists today.
From his early Impressionist and Symbolist works to his groundbreaking Suprematist compositions, Malevich’s art represents a constant evolution and experimentation in form and style. His legacy continues to inspire artists and shape the course of modern art.
7) Book Recommendations
Kazimir Malevich’s contributions to modern art have left a lasting impact on the art world. To delve deeper into his life and work, there are several essential books that provide insightful perspectives on Malevich, the Russian avant-garde, and his legacy.
In this section, we will explore three book recommendations: “Kazimir Malevich and the Russian Avant-Garde: Featuring Selections from the Khardziev and Costakis Collections,” “Kasimir Malevich: The Non-Objective World: Bauhausbcher 11,” and “Malewicz: Beyond Censorship.”
“Kazimir Malevich and the Russian Avant-Garde: Featuring Selections from the Khardziev and Costakis Collections” offers a comprehensive exploration of Malevich’s work and the Russian avant-garde movement. The book showcases selections from the Khardziev and Costakis collections, which include important artworks and archival materials.
Through these collections, readers gain insight into Malevich’s artistic development and the broader context of the Russian avant-garde during the early 20th century. This book provides art enthusiasts and researchers with a valuable resource to study Malevich’s art in its historical and cultural context.
“Kasimir Malevich: The Non-Objective World: Bauhausbcher 11” focuses on Malevich’s influential book, “The Non-Objective World,” originally published in 1927. The book summarizes Malevich’s philosophies on
Suprematism, the artistic movement he founded.
It delves into his theories on the spiritual and emotional power of abstract art. This edition complements Malevich’s writings with illustrations of his artworks, offering readers an opportunity to engage with the concepts through visual representations.
“The Non-Objective World” reveals the depth of Malevich’s artistic vision and provides a unique insight into his original thoughts on
Suprematism. “Malewicz: Beyond Censorship” presents an in-depth analysis of Malevich’s artistic contributions and the challenges he faced under political restrictions during his career.
Compiled by art historians, this book explores Malevich’s place in the Russian avant-garde movement and delves into the complexities of censorship in art. The book examines Malevich’s struggle with official censorship and suppression of the Russian avant-garde, shedding light on the socio-political context that shaped his artistic output.
“Malewicz: Beyond Censorship” offers a nuanced perspective on Malevich’s art and the cultural climate in which he lived. 8) Malevich’s Legacy
Kazimir Malevich’s legacy as a pioneer of abstract art and a visionary continues to shape the art world and inspire generations of artists.
In this section, we will explore two aspects of his legacy: influence and popularity and the impact of political restrictions on his later works. Malevich’s influence on the art world is evident in the widespread adoption of abstract art.
His revolutionary ideas on pure feeling and geometric abstraction laid the foundation for artists exploring non-representational art. Malevich’s
Suprematism has influenced various art movements, including Minimalism, which emerged in the 1960s.
Minimalist artists drew inspiration from Malevich’s use of geometric shapes and clean lines to create precise and highly simplified compositions. Malevich’s legacy can be seen in the works of artists like Sol LeWitt, Donald Judd, and Agnes Martin, who embraced the minimalist aesthetic.
However, Malevich’s artistic endeavors faced significant challenges under political restrictions during his later years. The rise of Socialist Realism in the Soviet Union imposed limitations on artistic expression and creativity.
Socialist Realism prioritized figurative art that promoted government-approved narratives and ideals. As a result, Malevich had to adapt his artistic style to conform to the political climate.
During this period, Malevich produced works that were more representational, such as “Two Peasant Figures” (1930s) and “Sportsmen” (1930s). These works showcase Malevich’s ability to navigate the challenging political landscape while still maintaining elements of his unique artistic vision.
Malevich’s “Self-Portrait” (1933) is particularly noteworthy, where he portrays himself in a striking and introspective manner. Malevich’s legacy is a testament to his unwavering artistic spirit and his ability to adapt to external constraints while maintaining his artistic integrity.
Although his later works may differ from his earlier avant-garde creations, they reflect his resilience and serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by artists operating within restrictive political climates.
Conclusion
Kazimir Malevich’s artistic legacy is far-reaching and multi-faceted. His groundbreaking ideas on abstract art and
Suprematism continue to inspire artists and shape the course of contemporary art.
His influence can be seen in various art movements, and his works remain touchstones for understanding the potential of geometric abstraction. However, Malevich’s later career was characterized by the challenges posed by political restrictions and the rise of Socialist Realism.
Despite these challenges, Malevich adapted his artistic style while retaining elements of his unique vision. His legacy is not only reflected in his individual artworks but also in the enduring impact of his ideas and the continued relevance of his artistic principles.
Malevich’s contributions to the art world are a testament to the power of artistic expression and the ability of an individual to push boundaries and transform the artistic landscape. His work continues to captivate audiences, challenge conventional notions of art, and inspire future generations of artists.
Kazimir Malevich’s legacy as a pioneer of abstract art and founder of
Suprematism is one of profound influence and enduring significance. Through his exploration of geometric shapes and emphasis on pure feeling, Malevich transformed the art world and inspired generations of artists.
His early works in Impressionism, Symbolism, and Cubism laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking Suprematist compositions, such as “Black Square” and “White on White.” Despite political restrictions that later imposed limitations on his artistic expression, Malevich adapted while retaining elements of his visionary style. His legacy continues to shape contemporary art, influencing movements like Minimalism.
Kazimir Malevich’s artistic contributions underscore the power of artistic vision, the importance of pushing boundaries, and the enduring impact of abstract art in capturing pure feeling and spirituality.