Illustration to the collection of poems by M. Bazhan 'Legacy' 1978

This illustration to the collection of poems by M. Bazhan 'Legacy' was made by Hryhorii Havrylenko. It has a striking color palette of red, blue, and black. It's as though Havrylenko took these colors and built a whole world around them! I am imagining him layering down the blue, then carefully placing the figures on top: the crowd of dark figures, the red statues. How did he decide what to reveal and what to conceal? I think he embraced the material quality of the printing process. This allows the eye to complete the forms. It’s all about the rhythm of looking and filling in the gaps. This piece resonates with other artists who use simplified forms to suggest more complex narratives, engaging in a visual conversation across time and space. We are always learning from one another. And it is this constant exchange that inspires new ways of seeing and expressing the world around us.