Female Image (dark) 1960

This drawing, Female Image (dark) is by Hryhorii Havrylenko. It was made with what looks like charcoal and pastel. The colors are raw and intense. They pull you in, right? There’s this really interesting mix of red, blue, and black that creates a mood that's both earthy and ethereal. The lines aren’t precious, they are direct, and it feels like the artist was working quickly, trying to capture something fleeting. Look at the way the charcoal is smudged around the eyes. It's like the artist is revealing a hidden layer of emotion. This isn't just a portrait, it’s a feeling. The face is built up through layers of marks. You can almost feel the pressure of the artist’s hand as he built up the image from the paper. It reminds me of some of the raw, emotional portraits by Paula Modersohn-Becker. Artists talking to each other across time. It's never about answers, always about keeping the conversation going.