Female Figure (c.1932) by Kazimir Malevich

Female Figure - Kazimir Malevich - c.1932

Artwork Information

TitleFemale Figure
ArtistKazimir Malevich
Datec.1932
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions126 x 106 cm
Art MovementNeo-Suprematism

About Female Figure

The artwork titled “Female Figure”, created by Kazimir Malevich circa 1932, is a figurative piece painted in oil on canvas. Measuring 126 by 106 centimeters, this work falls under the ambit of Neo-Suprematism, an art movement which Malevich himself developed after his initial creation and involvement with Suprematism. The style is marked by a shift from the earlier abstract geometric shapes to a new exploration of figurative painting.

Upon examining the artwork, one can observe a stark composition that seems to blend both Suprematist and figurative elements. The figure in question is rendered in a highly stylized manner with an elongated torso depicted in a bold green hue, which may draw the viewer’s attention as the central element of the composition. The torso is topped with a black shape that suggests the shoulders and head, featuring a smaller green circle that intimates the presence of a face. Limbs are abstracted to simple black forms, hinting at legs and possibly arms, or perhaps clothing. The abstraction of the figure conveys a tension between recognizability and the geometric abstraction inherent in Suprematism.

The color palette is relatively limited, emphasizing the pure color blocks which were a signature characteristic of Malevich’s work during his Suprematist phase. The background is pale, almost void, which allows the figure to command the space it occupies. There is a sense of verticality and stillness in the work, perhaps reflective of Malevich’s meditations on the transcendental qualities of art and its spiritual dimensions.

Combining the geometric focus of his earlier artworks with the discernible contours of the human form, Malevich’s “Female Figure” serves as an example of his foray into a more representational form while remaining firmly anchored in the abstract visual language he is known for. The synthesis of these two elements marks this artwork as an intriguing instance in the evolution of Malevich’s artistic journey.

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