Malevich, Kasimir (1878-1935), Russian abstract painter. His earliest work shows the influence of cubism, distinguished by great clarity of outline. In 1912 he began to develop his own style, known as suprematism (referring to supremacy of feeling over all other artistic considerations). In this completely nonobjective approach he used only geometric elements—rectangles and squares, first with some color and then with white on white. A noteworthy example is his Suprematist Composition: White on White (one of a series, 1918?, Museum of Modern Art, New York City).