 Chagall also invited other Russian artists , most notably the painter and art theoretician Kazimir Malevich and Lissitzky 's former teacher , Yehuda Pen . However , it was not until October 1919 when Lissitzky , then on an errand in Moscow , persuaded Malevich to relocate to Vitebsk . The move coincided with the opening of the first art exhibition in Vitebsk directed by Chagall . Malevich would bring with him a wealth of new ideas , most of which inspired Lissitzky but clashed with local public and professionals who favored figurative art and with Chagall himself . After going through impressionism , primitivism , and cubism , Malevich began developing and advocating his ideas on suprematism aggressively . In development since 1915 , suprematism rejected the imitation of natural shapes and focused more on the creation of distinct , geometric forms . He replaced the classic teaching program with his own and disseminated his suprematist theories and techniques school @-@ wide . Chagall advocated more classical ideals and Lissitzky , still loyal to Chagall , became torn between two opposing artistic paths . Lissitzky ultimately favoured Malevich 's suprematism and broke away from traditional Jewish art . Chagall left the school shortly thereafter . 
