Russian-born Kazimir Malevich (1879-1935) was Russia's most influential avant-garde artist, a key figure in a succession of art movements in the early 20th century. In the 1930s his work was banned in the Soviet Union after the Stalinist regime labelled abstract art as bourgeois. He then developed a new kind of figuration, still with the sole aim of communicating his theories about the nature of art. This publication accompanies a unique retrospective of one of the founders of abstract art.

"This lavishly illustrated publication sheds new light on Malevich's remarkable career, from his participation in the quest for a new society to his confrontation with the Stalinist regime. Groundbreaking essays by prominent curators and art historians explore every aspect of his output--from his early paintings of Russian landscapes, agricultural workers and religious scenes to his dramatic step into abstraction and his much-debated return to figurative painting in later life. The artist's collaborative involvement with architecture and design is investigated, as well as his temporary abandonment of painting in favour of teaching and writing."--Back cover.