Study for "Self-Portrait with Saw"

In 1913, Kliun delved into the study and learning of Cubism, examining all its stages, from the beginnings set by Cézanne to Cubo-Futurism, and made his initial attempts at Cubism. He meticulously prepared each painting with special care, creating a series of studies for each artwork. A typical example can be found in the studies belonging to the MOMus-Museum of Modern Art-Costakis Collection concerning the work " Self-Portrait with Saw (Sawyer)", which is preserved in different variations in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow and in the Krasnodar Museum of Art. This is an autobiographical reference, as the artist's father was a carpenter, and Kliun himself worked with him, practising carpentry at a young age. Kazimir Malevich also created a portrait of Kliun with a saw, a motif that repeats in the artworks of both artists. In Kliun's studies, elements of Cubo-Futurism are discernible, as he attempts to convey motion in a simultaneous Futurist manner while simultaneously employing the geometric structure of Cubism. The various geometric shapes he incorporates into his composition create layers and offer a sense of perspective in the artwork.