Trees 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this drawing, Trees, with ink on paper. It's all about the rhythm of the hand, a dance of lines that builds a whole world. I love the way Havrylenko uses simple lines to suggest depth and texture, like shorthand for a forest. It’s all about suggestion, you know? The paper peeks through, becoming part of the scene, like the air between the trees. Look at how the lines vary – thick, thin, scratchy, smooth – it's like a conversation. The outlines of the trees aren't precise, but instead they wobble and wiggle. It gives them a sense of movement, as if they're swaying in the breeze. It reminds me a bit of Matisse's drawings. Both artists had a knack for capturing the essence of a subject with minimal means. The drawing isn’t trying to capture a perfect likeness, but something more human.