Praying Woman 1912

Kazimir Malevich made this small drawing, Praying Woman, using graphite on paper. Imagine the artist at work—building up these grey tones, shifting and emerging through observation, intuition and correction. I sympathize with the artist as the image slowly appears on the page. What was he thinking when he made it? I wonder if he had someone in mind, or if he was just making it up? I see the way Malevich applies the graphite: soft and smudgy, yet with bold outlines that convey a sense of structure. The hand under the chin is a nice touch, and the light on the face and hood create a powerful emotional impact. You can see the influence of Russian folk art and icon painting in his overall body of work. Like the artist, we are all in an ongoing conversation. This piece shows a form of expression which embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.