Black Square (1915)
Kazimir Malevich · 1915
Why it's great
It is exactly what it sounds like: a black square on a white background. Malevich showed it in 1915 and called it a new beginning for painting, free of any picture of the real world. He wanted art to be about pure feeling and shape. People still argue about it, and that's why it is famous: it asked 'what is art?' and changed painting forever.
🏛️ Part of history
The Russian Revolution (1905–1922) — Malevich's Black Square, shown in 1915, announced that painting could start from zero, just as Russia was about to.
Where to see it
📍 State Tretyakov GalleryMoscow, Russia
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Kazimir Malevich was born near Kyiv, in what is now Ukraine, to a family of Polish origin. He lived in Moscow and Saint Petersburg and founded Suprematism, an art of pure shapes and colors. He also taught, wrote, and designed. After the Russian government turned against modern art, he was forced to return to simple realist styles before his death in 1935.
