At first glance, Kazimir Malevich’s “White on White” might seem to be a confusing or in some regards a meaningless artwork. This was exactly my initial reaction until I decided to listen in on a lecture that a MOMA employee was giving about this artwork. This Oil on Canvas was created in 1918 during a time when Russia established a communist government. It represents one of the major artworks during the Suprematism era, an art movement which emerged in the early 20th century that focuses on basic geometric shapes and limited color usage. The richly textured surface and imperfect design speak to the external reality of the world we live in. Malevich uses the shades of white as an abstract concept of infinity. This draws a directly parallel to the communist ideology which seeks to destroy class divisions and establish an equal socioeconomic order amongst its citizens. The square in the middle represents the upper class while the white field represents the lower class. It’s interesting to note that the seemingly floating square is positioned at a tilted angle. This represents the communist revolution in which the upper class being overthrown by the lower class. The darker tone white square in the middle slowly fades into the white background as if it has almost been reduced to nothing. This signifies the merging of the different social classes within a communist society. This picture blends the different variations of white and tonality to display a sense of limitless and novelty. Perhaps this artwork shows Malevich’s view towards the communism order.

-Benny Chan