Female image 1975

This "Female Image" is a line drawing by Hryhorii Havrylenko, and it looks like it's made with ink on paper. The process here is totally laid bare, like a diagram of how to see. Look at how the artist captures so much with so little. It's all about the essence, right? The delicate curve of the neck, the slight asymmetry of the eyes. Each line feels considered, almost hesitant, like the artist is feeling their way around the form. The way the lines vary in thickness, too, creates a subtle sense of depth and shadow, even though it’s all just line. It’s like Havrylenko is whispering secrets about form and representation, inviting us to really look, like children, and question how we perceive the world around us. I'm reminded of Matisse's line drawings, that same sense of capturing the spirit of a thing with the bare minimum of means. You know, art isn't about answers, it's about asking better questions.