What a Crash 1914

Kazimir Malevich made this striking image with bold, graphic color. It’s got that kind of inky, tactile feel, like you can almost smell the print shop. Look at the way he lays down the color. It is flat and simple, almost like a child's drawing. The giant is a big, cartoon-like figure, with these really pronounced outlines. He stands over the other figures, who have been defeated, swinging what looks like a whip. I love the way Malevich uses color to create this sense of depth and space, the limited palette really reinforces the dynamic and chaotic scene. Malevich, in a way, reminds me of Philip Guston. I guess I’m always drawn to artists who aren't afraid to keep it simple. It shows that art is this ongoing back-and-forth, a conversation across time. It doesn’t need to have answers, it just needs to keep the dialogue going.