Abstract Composition 1970

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this unnamed abstract composition at an unknown date, and with what looks like ink on paper. I love the way he’s using a simple square, building on it, seeing how far he can push it. Look at the fourth square in the top row, the one filled with tiny dark lines. It's like a little universe contained within this rigid shape. You can almost feel the artist’s hand at work, the pressure of the pen, the repetitive motion. It’s so dense and textural, you can almost feel it! Then compare that to the squares underneath, with lines instead of filled space, the drawing explores a different kind of depth, almost like an optical illusion. It reminds me of Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings, but with a folksier, more personal touch. Ultimately, what makes this work so compelling is its simplicity. It’s just a few lines on paper, but it opens up a whole world of possibilities. It invites us to see the world in new ways, to find beauty in the everyday, and to appreciate the power of art to transform our perception.