Born in Kiev, Malevich was exposed to the Impressionist, Neo-Impressionist and Fauve paintings through collections in Moscow where he studied from 1904-1910. On a trip to Paris in 1912, Malevich embraced Cubism, which he later altered to develop his own abstract geometrical style, Suprematism. He claimed it was a purer style of Cubism. He is known for what may be the ultimate abstract picture -- a white square on a white background.