Illustration for Mikhail Stelmakh's book 'In the Hedgehog's Windmill' 1956

This is an illustration by Hryhorii Havrylenko for Mikhail Stelmakh's book 'In the Hedgehog's Windmill'. Look at these characters – a hare and a bird – caught in some kind of intense conversation. What do you think they are saying to each other? I like the quick, scratchy lines of the drawing. You can see how the artist's hand moved, building up the forms of the animals with short, energetic strokes. The hare is especially expressive, with its mouth open wide and its fur standing on end. It reminds me of the way I build up layers in my own paintings, letting the marks and gestures accumulate to create a sense of depth and movement. I wonder if Havrylenko was thinking about folk art or traditional Ukrainian illustrations when he made this. There's a kind of raw, direct quality to it that feels very connected to those traditions. I think the artist is in conversation with other image makers.