Illustrations for Mikhail Stelmakh's book "In the Hedgehog's Windmill" 1956

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this illustration for Mikhail Stelmakh's book "In the Hedgehog's Windmill" using pen and ink. Look at the way the forms emerge with such clarity. The grandfather and child almost seem to step off the page. I imagine Havrylenko in his studio, maybe a small space, hunched over the drawing, carefully placing each mark to bring these characters to life. There's something so tender in the way he renders the grandfather carrying his grandchild. The cross-hatching creates depth and texture, giving weight to their figures. I wonder if Havrylenko was thinking about his own family when he made this, remembering moments of love and connection. It reminds me of other illustrators and printmakers, like Käthe Kollwitz, who captured the raw emotion of human experience. Artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing, and riffing on ideas. It's about finding new ways to express universal feelings. Making art is about embracing the unknown and trusting your intuition, and that's what makes it so exciting.