Plate (folio 21) from Igra v adu (A Game in Hell)

Plate (folio 21) from Igra v adu (A Game in Hell) by Kazimir Malevich is a seminal work from the height of the Russian avant-garde movement. Created in 1913 and published the following year, this piece is a lithograph derived from an illustrated book comprising 28 plates, including the cover, along with accompanying lithographed manuscript text. This format underscores the experimental, collaborative nature of Russian book arts during the period 1913-14, where text and image were fundamentally integrated to challenge established academic aesthetics.

The medium of lithography suited the immediate, graphic demands of the avant-garde, enabling Malevich to achieve a coarse, energetic aesthetic that diverges sharply from earlier academic conventions. The visual vocabulary of this period shows Malevich engaged deeply with Cubo-Futurism, combining the fragmented geometry of Cubism with the dynamism and speed championed by Futurists. Although Malevich would shortly pivot toward pure abstraction with Suprematism, these early illustrated books provide essential insight into his development, marrying primitive folkloric drawing with radical modern forms.

The complete Igra v adu project functions as a graphic narrative, reflecting the chaotic and often satirical tone prevalent among Moscow and St. Petersburg literary and artistic circles of the time. The raw, black-and-white print captures the frantic movement implied by the book's title.

This significant classification as an Illustrated Book highlights the role of prints and easily reproducible media in disseminating radical artistic concepts within Russian culture. The artwork currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), anchoring its status as a critical piece of early modernism. While the original book was published in 1914, high-quality prints of Malevich’s contributions remain vital resources for understanding the transition from figurative representation to non-objectivity.