Suprematizm. 34 risunka (Suprematism: 34 Drawings)

Suprematizm. 34 risunka (Suprematism: 34 Drawings) is a pivotal illustrated book created by Kazimir Malevich in 1920. This groundbreaking publication functions as both a theoretical manifesto and a visual archive of the Suprematist movement, which Malevich pioneered starting in 1915. The volume is classified as an illustrated book, containing thirty-five distinct lithographed illustrations, including the cover design, alongside lithographed manuscript text written entirely by the artist. This intimate yet authoritative presentation captures the essence of his non-objective philosophy.

This work encapsulates the core principles of Suprematism: the supremacy of pure artistic feeling and the rejection of visual representation. Produced in the turbulent post-revolutionary period of 1920, the book demonstrates Malevich’s commitment to disseminating abstract art throughout the Russian avant-garde. The choice of lithography allowed Malevich to reproduce complex geometric forms and textual explanations efficiently. Unlike unique oil paintings, which were scarce, publications like Suprematizm. 34 risunka permitted the artist to circulate his radical theories and systematic drawings widely, thereby influencing a new generation of designers, architects, and thinkers in the burgeoning Soviet era.

Malevich utilized the format of simplified geometries-specifically circles, squares, and crosses-to illustrate his philosophical ideas about cosmic energy and the "zero-point" of painting. These sequenced drawings present a systematic overview of Suprematist development, evolving from fundamental planar shapes to dynamic, multi-layered spatial compositions. The mass production of lithographic prints ensured the survival and widespread study of this influential theoretical text. A historically significant copy of this Russian masterwork is permanently held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its undeniable importance to the trajectory of modern abstract art.