“Peasant Women in a Church,” crafted by Kazimir Malevich in 1912, is a notable pencil-on-paper sketch belonging to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The artwork, sized at 21.9 x 18 cm, falls under the genre of sketches and studies as part of the artist’s 1st Peasant Cycle series. It is currently housed in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a group of peasant women standing closely together within what appears to be a church setting. The figures are rendered in a simplified and stylized manner, characteristic of Malevich’s primitive approach. The women are dressed in long robes and shawls, their facial features and forms outlined with minimal, yet expressive, pencil strokes. Their bare feet and the absence of detailed background elements emphasize their humble and rural life. The tightly packed composition underscores a sense of community and solidarity amongst the women.