Mystic 

Here we have Kazimir Malevich's "Mystic," a drawing presenting three figures, each marked by a stark cross on their face. These crosses, far from being simple religious symbols, evoke a primal sense of fate and identity. The cross as a symbol carries a heavy cultural load, appearing in various forms across millennia. From ancient markings of boundaries to symbols of sacrifice, the cross transcends specific creeds. Look at pre-Christian symbols—consider the solar cross, a sign of cyclical time and seasonal change. This echoes in Malevich's work; the faces, almost mask-like, suggest archetypes, not individuals. Consider the emotional weight. These figures, simplified to near abstraction, recall early ritualistic art—symbols scratched on cave walls. The cross on each face is a signifier that speaks to the collective human experience of suffering and spiritual questioning. The starkness of the lines, the basic forms, it all hints at something primal—a return to the roots of human expression. These are not mere portraits but embodiments of ancient, unresolved tensions.