Kasimir Malevich’s artwork, “The Woodcutter,” dated 1912, represents a genre painting that measures 94 by 71.5 cm and is executed using oil on canvas. It is an exemplar of the Cubist movement and forms part of the series known as the 1st Peasant Cycle. The artwork resides in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, where it contributes to the illustrious collection of modern art.
“The Woodcutter” is a vivid example of Cubist visual language, where the figure and its surroundings are fractured into a composition of geometric forms. The palette is rich and varied, composed of muted yet interlocking patches of color that create a dynamic and almost rhythmic visual effect, characteristic of Cubism’s approach to representing multiple perspectives simultaneously. The central figure is depicted in a moment of labor, captured through the angular and intersecting planes that suggest both movement and the solidity of form. Through this deconstruction of traditional perspective, Malevich evokes the essence of the woodcutter’s task and environment, inviting the viewer to perceive the subject beyond the literal, through the prismatic lens of Cubist abstraction.
