Why is this painting of a black square famous? – Allison Leigh

Discover the symbolism of Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square,” and how it pushed the boundaries of what art is and what it can be.

In 1915, an exhibition of radical artworks opened in Russia. Many pieces pushed the boundaries of form and style, but one was particularly controversial: Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square.” Criticized as simple and uninspired, Malevich’s work is more complicated than it first appears— and may not be a painting of a black square at all. Allison Leigh digs into the art style known as Suprematism.

Lesson by Allison Leigh, directed by Alexia Roider, Zedem Media.