Female image 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko’s "Female Image" is an ink drawing where the character of the line really sings. You can feel the artist searching, almost tentatively, for the form, letting the marks build up to define the image. The shading is a mass of parallel lines, laid down with a lovely, rhythmic quality. It reminds me that artmaking is a process of discovery, not just a mechanical reproduction. The surface is pretty bare, just the stark contrast of the black ink on white paper. It’s interesting how the artist uses line to create a sense of volume and depth, especially around the figure's face and hair. There's an area behind her head where the lines are fainter, looser, kind of dissolving into the background. This evokes a feeling of transience and fleetingness, like the image is emerging from a dream. Looking at this, I am reminded of Picasso's line drawings and their shared emphasis on form and gesture. Ultimately, art is a conversation across time, and each artist brings their own unique voice to the mix.