Portrait of a Member of the Artist’s Family (c.1906) by Kazimir Malevich

Portrait of a Member of the Artist's Family - Kazimir Malevich - c.1906

Artwork Information

TitlePortrait of a Member of the Artist's Family
ArtistKazimir Malevich
Datec.1906
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions68 x 99 cm
Art MovementPointillism

About Portrait of a Member of the Artist's Family

The artwork “Portrait of a Member of the Artist’s Family” is a notable creation by Kazimir Malevich, dating back to circa 1906. It illustrates the artist’s early engagement with Pointillism, an influential technique within the Post-Impressionist movement. The portrait, executed in oil on canvas, measures 68 by 99 centimeters. This piece falls within the genre of portraiture, depicting an intimate representation of an individual close to the artist.

The artwork offers a rich tapestry of colors applied in a pointillist style, where small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. The subject is seated outdoors, with a vividly painted environment that suggests a garden or a park. The foliage in the background features a myriad of greens, yellows, and some touches of red and orange, indicative of sunlight filtering through leaves. The figure is portrayed in three-quarter view with a direct and perhaps introspective gaze, which might suggest a moment of quiet contemplation or solemnity.

The sitter is dressed in a pale pink blouse, with subtle nuances of shade and light achieved through the distinctive pointillistic technique, giving depth to the garment. The pink tones of the blouse contrast with the dark skirt and the stark white of the tablecloth, which is also dotted with light and shadow. A small, round object, possibly a fruit, sits atop the tablecloth, adding a focal point of color that echoes the hues found in the surrounding vegetation. The overall composition, while embodying some impressionistic qualities of light and color, is rendered with a structure and attentiveness to form that holds a prelude to Malevich’s later abstract works. This artwork encapsulates a moment of personal significance, captured with a technique that adds a vibrancy and a sense of the ephemeral to the scene.

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