Rayonism vs Suprematism

レイヨニスム / シュプレマティスム

Rayonism comes from Avant-garde and Suprematism from Geometric Abstraction. Both are read here as style. They are reached for with some of the same intent, which is where they get confused.

Rayonism

Rayonism — Mikhail Larionov《赤と青のレイヨニスム（浜辺）》1911 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainRayonism — Natalia Goncharova《レイヨニスムの百合》1913 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainRayonism — Natalia Goncharova《猫》1913 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

A Russian abstraction that declared its subject to be not objects themselves but the crossing of light rays reflected from them. Sharp diagonal bundles of lines intersect, dissolving the object into an interference pattern of light. It marked the point where Russian abstraction broke away from Cubism.

Suprematism

Suprematism — Kazimir Malevich, Suprematist Composition, 1916 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainSuprematism — リシツキー『赤い楔で白を撃て』1919 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domainSuprematism — マレーヴィチ『黒の正方形』1915 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Leaves depiction behind, raising felt tension from a few geometric forms and empty space.

RayonismSuprematism
Era1912–19141915–1920s
FamilyAvant-gardeGeometric Abstraction
KindStyleStyle
CuesSharp bundles of diagonal lines / Planes formed where lines intersect / Disappearance of the object's contour / Layering of a restricted paletteFloating rectangles / White space / Diagonal gravity / Restricted color
Best used forDrawing invisible phenomena such as speed or radio waves as bundles of crossing lines · Covers and backgrounds that leave only a trace of the subject without ever depicting itPresenting a concept as sensation, not explanation · Unstable motion inside emptiness
TypeSharp, angular display type set on the diagonal, almost absorbed into the ray structureKeep type small and neutral, apart from the forms' motion
CompositionAssume a light source outside the frame, cross sharp shafts, planes only where they meetThree to seven forms on a diagonal axis, never touching
MaterialA few translucent colors layered over a dark or neutral ground, densest where they crossWhite, black and red at the core; restrict the palette
CautionDrawing the object and adding rays on top leaves contours beneath the lines and the dissolution into light fails, and rays that never build planes at their crossings stay mere diagonal decoration.Don't stop at scattering shapes. Feel the gravity and spacing continuing beyond the frame.

Put these two together

Avant-garde ／ Geometric Abstraction

IndexStyle