Magnetic Suprematism 1917

Kazimir Malevich made this drawing, Magnetic Suprematism, with graphite on paper. It’s about simple forms, but also about the making – the process of placing marks on a surface. Look at the texture created by the graphite; see how the marks are layered to build tone and depth. I’m drawn to the horizontal rectangle in the middle, each mark is a clear, distinct line. It’s like he’s building something solid, piece by piece. There’s a real physicality to how he’s built the form, and the other shapes have a similar feel. Malevich's Suprematism was about finding the most basic, essential forms, and in this drawing, you can see him working that through. It reminds me a little of some early Hilma af Klint – both were interested in stripping things down to their essence. It’s not about finding the one right answer, but about embracing the open-ended possibilities of art.