Analytical Chart

The Analytical Chart is a seminal work by Kazimir Malevich, created in 1924. Classified as a drawing, this piece demonstrates a complex manipulation of materials, utilizing cut-and-pasted paper, watercolor, pencil, and ink layered upon paper. This mixed-media approach reflects the period of intense technical and theoretical experimentation within the Russian avant-garde following the initial revolutionary zeal.

Following his pioneering formulations of Suprematism, Malevich shifted much of his attention in the mid-1920s toward theoretical analysis and pedagogical diagrams rather than pure execution of paintings. This drawing, dating from the crucial 1924–27 period, functions not as an independent aesthetic object but as a visual schematic. It documents or classifies the development of form and color in modern art, using precise geometry, lines, and annotations to map formal relationships. This effort was central to Malevich’s later career as he sought to establish a universal, rational basis for non-objective expression.

The resulting chart reflects the intensely theoretical climate of the time, where artists believed structure and form could be analyzed and taught systematically. The technical rigor of the work, combining precise drafting with collage elements, underscores Malevich’s commitment to disseminating his ideas through didactic means. This important piece highlights the intellectual depth of the Russian Constructivist and Suprematist movements. Today, the drawing is part of the distinguished collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its continued study and preservation. High-quality prints of this dynamic analytical process are often referenced by scholars documenting the history of abstraction.