Two Male Figures 1932

Kazimir Malevich made this striking painting of two figures in oil on canvas, sometime in his career. The way the white paint is applied – not quite flat, with subtle variations – suggests a process of layering, of building up the forms through repeated gestures, much like a painter might build a painting. Look at the texture of the figures' beards – almost like thick, matted wool, rendered with short, choppy strokes of black. It's a visceral contrast to the smooth planes of their white suits and the gentle gradations of the blue sky behind them. The pink hands and feet also add a surreal touch. It's almost as if they are hovering in an alternate universe of pure color and form. Malevich’s work reminds me a bit of Guston, stripping down the elements of painting, getting to the essence of shape, color, and gesture. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about the ongoing conversation.