Argentine Polka 1911

"Argentine Polka" is a 1911 painting by the Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich. The painting features a couple dancing, their bodies rendered in a simplified, almost cartoonish style. This use of simplified forms and bright, bold colors is characteristic of Malevich's early work, which was heavily influenced by the artistic movement known as Expressionism. The painting's title suggests a playful, energetic atmosphere, but the figures' stiff poses and the somewhat muted color palette create a more melancholic and introspective mood. While the painting's subject matter is seemingly mundane, Malevich's innovative approach to form and color makes it a significant piece of early 20th-century art.