The Knife Grinder
Kazimir Malevich · 1912
Why it's great
A man who sharpens knives is broken into shiny metallic pieces, like gears in a machine. Malevich painted this in 1912, when he mixed the shiny shapes of Cubism with the speed of Futurism, before he painted his first black square.
Where to see it
📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.
Hang it on your wall
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.
