Illustration for the collection of short stories by Yevhen Gutsal "In the stork village" 1969

Editor: This is an ink drawing from 1969 by Hryhorii Havrylenko. It’s an illustration for a collection of short stories, "In the Stork Village," and it feels incredibly detailed, especially given the medium. It almost has a chilling or unsettling feeling about it. What do you see in this piece, in terms of story-telling? Curator: Chilling is an interesting word. Yes, the piece has a certain starkness. Maybe it comes from the limited tonal range, but I see more hope in those white spaces. Light fighting through darkness perhaps. To me, it is an idealized memory rather than photojournalism of a dark period. The artist doesn’t have to show us details to remind us. I’d bet you could sit down in a field in the Stork Village and recognize this drawing’s spirit today. It shows us only what is necessary. What do you make of all the linework? Editor: Well, the crosshatching really defines the shapes and creates the shadows, but it also gives a kind of buzzing energy to the whole thing, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly! It’s not just about defining form; it’s about imbuing the scene with life, even if it’s a somewhat restless life. Almost as if everything is vibrating slightly. Look closely, notice the geometry. What might at first appear chaotic soon reveals that every little area is thought through with care, the kind that comes from intense feelings of love. The artist has taken the landscape as he feels it to his soul, transforming a piece of earth to the status of treasure. It is also reminiscent of bookplates; how curious, isn't it? Editor: So, almost like a memory being pulled from a dream? Curator: That’s it, Editor, that’s it. Editor: Thanks for the chat! Curator: You as well, it was magical.