Composition 1917

Alexander Rodchenko created this Composition, measuring 40.2 by 35.5 centimeters, using gouache on paper. Here, an array of geometric forms—squares, triangles, circles—collide and coalesce, generating dynamic tension. Rodchenko eschews traditional notions of depth and perspective, favoring a flat, abstract space where shapes float freely, challenging established notions of representation. The interplay between warm hues of red and yellow, and cooler tones of blue and green, creates a sense of visual vibrancy. The artist’s use of color is not merely decorative; it serves to delineate form and spatial relationships within the composition. Rodchenko’s exploration of pure form reflects the utopian ideals of the Russian avant-garde, which sought to create a new visual language for a radically transformed society. Ultimately, it invites us to question our assumptions about the nature of perception, and the possibilities of abstraction.