A scene from the drama of Leonid Andreev Anathema 1909

Kazimir Malevich made this pen and ink drawing, “A scene from the drama of Leonid Andreev Anathema,” at an undetermined date. The composition is all about mark-making and its relationship to form, in this case using the dark, inky medium to create areas of dense shade and looming figures. Take a close look at the swirling network of lines in the sky. Malevich allows the energy of the marks to overwhelm the representational aspect, and you could be forgiven for thinking of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The application of the ink feels immediate and gestural. Look too, at the different textures of the stones in the wall and on the ground, each one distinct. Malevich's drawing shares a sensibility with other artists of the early 20th century, and while he is best known as a geometric abstractionist, it’s interesting to see how those ideas stemmed from earlier, more expressive forms. Ultimately, this piece shows us how art is a constant conversation across time. It's all about exchange and ambiguity.