Suprematist Composition: White on White
Kazimir Malevich · 1918
Why it's great
A slightly tilted white square floats on a white background. Malevich wanted to make pictures with no objects, only pure feeling. It's one of the most radical paintings ever created. People still discuss what it means and whether it's art.
🏛️ Part of history
The Russian Revolution (1905–1922) — Malevich pushes his revolution in art as far as it goes: a white square on a white ground, painted the year after the revolution.
Where to see it
📍 Museum of Modern ArtNew York City, United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
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.
