The artwork titled “The black cross on a red oval” is a creation of Kazimir Malevich, a prominent figure in the Suprematist movement. Conceived around 1921, this abstract work employs oil on canvas as its medium. The piece measures 100.5 by 60 centimeters and is housed within the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork is characterized by a stark, bold contrast between colors and shapes. A sizable black cross, devoid of any embellishment or detail, dominates the composition, set against a vivid red oval that itself is sharply juxtaposed against a neutral background. The cross’s horizontal and vertical elements are not intersected at their midpoints, creating a visual tension and a departure from traditional representations of the cross. The bottom section of the cross appears to rest on an implied horizon made by a black line, with two smaller lines receding diagonally beneath it as if suggesting shadow or dimension. There’s a tangible sense of space and depth, despite the work’s minimalistic approach and the use of flat areas of color typical of Suprematism. This movement, spearheaded by Malevich, emphasizes simple geometric forms and pure artistic feeling over the representation of objects from reality, seeking to access the supremacy of pure artistic sensation.