Kazimir Malevich presented the Black Square for the first time in 1915 in St. Petersburg. Similar to a Russian Orthodox icon, it was mounted elevated in a corner of the Salon of the "Last Futuristic Exhibition 0.10". The work appalled contemporary critics, who judged derogatory and mocking of it. Malevich himself declared as early as 1878: "If the habit of thinking has disappeared, to see in images the image of little angles of nature, of Madonnas and shameful Venus creatures, then we will see a pure product of painting." A century later, Malevich's paintings, which were initially called "quadrilaterals" because of their slightly irregular sides, are considered "icons of modern art" and "zero point of painting" and have sometimes been referred to as "Mona Lisa of non-representational art". Malevich also added the black square "in miniature" to his self-portrait as a signature. After his death, Malevich's body was laid out under the painting, the condolitans wore flags with black squares and Malevich's grave was covered with a black ash square. The Black Square had become his trademark during his lifetime.

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Black Square by Kazimir Severinovich Malevich. Available as an art print on canvas, photo paper, watercolor board, uncoated paper or Japanese paper.
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