Nude 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this Nude with ink on paper. Look at the confidence of the lines. The thing I love about a drawing like this is that you can see the whole process, the artist’s hand. The hatching that defines the form is so interesting. The way he uses it to create shadows and volume, it’s almost sculptural. And then the bold, simple outline, that's like a statement, right? The way the hand is rendered, so delicate and detailed, compared to the rest of the body, which is more schematic. It’s as if he is saying, “I see this, and this is how I feel.” This drawing reminds me of Matisse, particularly his line drawings. Both artists share a love for the simple line, a way of capturing the essence of form with minimal means. It’s all about suggestion, about leaving space for the viewer to fill in the blanks. That’s the beauty of art: it’s an invitation to participate, to see the world in new and unexpected ways.