One of the controversial works of the Russian painter, Kazimir Malevich, is his oil painting, Black Square.  As shown at right, it consists of a single black-filled square on a white background. It currently hangs in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. It seems obvious that the acceptance of this work as significant art depends to a great extent on the identity and reputation of the painter.

Since it presents a classical Euclidean geometry object, does Malevich’s work qualify as mathematical art?

Suppose that you or I produce our own corresponding works, Red Triangle and Mauve Circle, should we expect recognition for our images as mathematical art? To what extent does the complexity of the object portrayed enter into this answer?

Artist: Kazimir Malevich, Russian (1879 - 1935)

Title: Black Square

Year: 1915

Medium: Oil on canvas