“…the most thankless color”: Aleksandr Rodchenko’s black-on-black paintings

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the historical and cultural contexts that influenced Aleksandr Rodchenko’s use of black, by analyzing the artist’s reflections on the subject. It examines Rodchenko’s engagement with materials, including his unconventional choices, like the use of asphalt, and highlights his exploitation of the unique working and visual properties of the materials he used. The essay also considers the relationship between technology and art, and how they are integrated in Rodchenko’s use of black paint throughout his body of work.