This paper examines Kazimir Malevich’s (1878–1935) materials and methods for
his Painterly Realism of a Football Player—Color Masses in the 4th Dimension painted in 1915.
Football Player is an impressive painting constructed of colored geometric forms, representative of
Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematist period. This painting is from a remarkable group of works the artist
produced for 0.10 (Zero–Ten): The Last Futurist Exhibition of Painting held in Petrograd in 1915
where Malevich’s Suprematist works debuted. The pristine condition of Football Player allows for
the accurate interpretation of Malevich’s artistic vision and makes this painting an excellent candidate for a technical study using noninvasive techniques. Methods used included X-ray, infrared
reflectography, and ultraviolet visible fluorescence imaging, microscopic examination, and analysis
of pigments and binding media using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and reflectance Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results from XRF analysis showed a closely similar palette
to other Suprematist paintings by Malevich and highlighted the presence of paints in limited use
such as cobalt violet, whereas reflectance FTIR results provided new insights into the binding media
used, the condition of the oil paint, and the presence of extenders, organic additives, and degradation products.