Simultaneous Death of a Man in an Airplane and on the Railroad (plate, folio 15) from Vzorval' (Explodity)

Simultaneous Death of a Man in an Airplane and on the Railroad (plate, folio 15) from Vzorval' (Explodity) is a seminal lithograph created by Kazimir Malevich in 1913. This piece is one of twenty powerful prints included in the revolutionary Russian Futurist illustrated book, Vzorval' (Explodity), which was formally published in 1914. This artwork captures the central obsessions of Russian Cubo-Futurism: the violent dynamism of modern technology, speed, and the disruption of traditional spatial understanding.

Malevich utilizes the lithographic medium to execute bold, highly fractured lines and sharp, geometric forms, translating the mechanical frenzy of the industrial age onto paper. The composition visually encapsulates the Futurist fascination with technology, while the title itself defines a specific conceptual problem: the simultaneous destruction caused by two distinct modes of rapid transport, the airplane and the railroad. This concept forces the viewer to reconcile multiple events happening concurrently, fundamentally breaking with classical perspectival representation and embracing the simultaneity advocated by avant-garde poets and painters of the era.

As part of the pivotal Vzorval' publication, the work contributes significantly to the narrative of the Russian avant-garde movement immediately preceding the outbreak of World War I. Produced between 1913–14, and formally published in 1914, this print embodies the cultural turmoil and radical innovative spirit that defined the period, marking a crucial moment in Malevich’s career just prior to his breakthrough into Suprematism. The work continues to be studied as an essential example of experimental Modernist prints and resides within the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).