Folio 20 from Igra v adu (A Game in Hell)

Folio 20 from Igra v adu (A Game in Hell) by Kazimir Malevich is a pivotal example of Russian avant-garde book art, produced during the crucial transition period leading up to Suprematism. Created between 1913 and 1914 and published in 1914, this work is a lithograph incorporating lithographed manuscript text. It is one sheet from an illustrated book that contains 28 such lithographs, reflecting the dynamic intersection of visual art and experimental literature prevalent among the Cubo-Futurist circles in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

As an Illustrated Book classification, the aesthetic of this folio demonstrates Malevich’s early exploration of geometric and expressive forms, predating his commitment to pure abstraction. The choice of lithography allowed for a stark, immediate quality, typical of avant-garde prints seeking rapid reproduction and wide dissemination. The collaboration inherent in the Igra v adu (A Game in Hell) project often paired the visual radicalism of Malevich with equally experimental poetry, characterizing the cultural ferment of the era. The interplay between the artist's dynamic imagery and the handwritten text shows his engagement with the concept of zaum, or "transrational" language, central to Russian Futurism. Malevich utilized fragmented shapes and dense compositions during the period of 1913–14, published 1914, deliberately challenging traditional narrative representation through stark contrasts and energetic lines.

This early Russian Futurist piece provides essential insight into the developmental stages of a key modern master and the role of graphic arts in the emerging avant-garde. The existence of high-quality prints from this book ensures its accessibility as a critical study resource within the history of modern graphic arts and publishing. This specific folio resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where it helps document the revolutionary changes occurring in art and poetry in early 20th-century Russia.