Female image. Sketch 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this sketch of a female image with pen on paper, we're not sure when. But it's not really about the when, is it? It’s more about the line, the way it barely grazes the surface, tentatively describing a face. Imagine Havrylenko, pen in hand, hovering just above the paper. There’s a lightness here, a kind of searching. The marks are minimal, almost hesitant, as if the face is emerging from the void. Look how the eyes are slightly uneven, giving her a quizzical, soulful gaze. This reminds me of other artists who use line in similar ways, like Giacometti, or even some of Picasso's drawings. It’s like they’re all in conversation, sharing ideas about how a simple line can convey so much. It’s not about perfection, but about capturing a fleeting moment, an impression. It’s about the artist’s hand, their touch, and the feeling that gets translated onto the page. It’s this kind of exchange that keeps painting alive.