# Why is this painting of a black square famous?

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: Allison Leigh
- Year: 2023
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: History, Art, architecture and design, Teaching and learning
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/allison_leigh_why_is_this_painting_of_a_black_square_famous)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

In 1915, an exhibition of radical artworks opened in Russia. Many pieces pushed the boundaries of form and style, but one was particularly controversial: Kazimir Malevich's "Black Square." Criticized as simple and uninspired, Malevich's work is more complicated than it first appears— and may not be a painting of a black square at all. Allison Leigh digs into the art style known as Suprematism. \[Directed by Alexia Roider, Zedem Media, narrated by Addison Anderson\].

## Lectures

1. [Why is this painting of a black square famous?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/allison_leigh_why_is_this_painting_of_a_black_square_famous/c0230446ba59), 6 min (TED's player)