Nude sitting 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this drawing, "Nude sitting," with what seems like a delicate touch. It’s all done with very thin lines, like he barely touched the paper. I can imagine Havrylenko in his studio, maybe thinking about Matisse, with the model posing, and him trying to capture the essence of her form. The hand placed across her chest feels so subtle. What does it mean? Is it a gesture of modesty, or is she simply aware of her own body? There’s a real vulnerability in this drawing. Havrylenko wasn’t trying to make something perfect. It’s more like he’s sketching out an idea, a feeling. And in that, it reminds me that art doesn't always have to be about grand statements. Sometimes, it’s about those small, quiet moments of seeing and feeling. It’s like he's inviting us into his thought process, sharing a fleeting moment of connection with his subject.