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Kazimir Malevich’s 'Suprematist Composition: White on White' (ca. 1918) was arguably a groundbreaking moment in abstract art. At a time when realism and representation still dominated, Malevich stripped painting down to its most fundamental elements—color, shape, and space.
The nearly imperceptible tilted white square on a slightly different white background defied traditional artistic conventions, challenging the idea that painting needed to depict objects or tell a story.
This painting was revolutionary because it redefined the meaning of abstract art. Malevich, the founder of Suprematism, believed that geometric abstraction could express a higher, spiritual reality. White on White was the ultimate realization of this idea—an artwork that removed all distractions, allowing viewers to engage with pure form and emotion. By rejecting depth and narrative, Malevich freed abstract art from materialism and artistic tradition.
'The White Cross' by Kazimir Malevich, 1927.
In the context of early Soviet Russia, White on White also reflected radical ideological change. Just as the Russian Revolution sought to dismantle old power structures, Malevich’s work broke from bourgeois aesthetics. By pushing abstract art to its limits, White on White paved the way for modernist experimentation and influenced generations of abstract artists.
Pete Stein
Founder, Galerie Stein
Montreal
Galerie Stein will be presenting more contemporary abstract expressionist artists in 2025, both virtually at GalerieStein.com and in our gallery. Contact: Pete Stein at peter@GalerieStein.com.
