The artwork titled “Reaper,” created by Kazimir Malevich in 1912, is a significant piece within the Cubism art movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. It forms part of “1st Peasant Cycle,” illustrating Malevich’s exploration of rural life and the labor of peasants.
In the artwork, a solitary figure dominates the composition, bent over in a laborious posture suggestive of reaping. The figure is dressed in humble clothing and appears barefoot, emphasizing their agrarian existence. The use of geometric shapes and a muted color palette is indicative of the Cubist style, rendering the human form in a fragmented yet harmonious manner. The figure’s task and determined expression are captured through bold lines and contrasts, foregrounding the physicality and toil intrinsic to rural life. The background, though abstract and simplified, alludes to a landscape, reinforcing the setting of manual fieldwork. Malevich’s piece invokes a sense of connection to the earth and the relentless effort of the agrarian community.