Naked, styling hair. Based on classical works 1965

Hryhorii Havrylenko drew this nude, styling her hair, at an unknown date. The black lines on an off-white ground remind me of Matisse in their simplicity and elegance. Looking closely at the lines, I see how deftly Havrylenko describes the figure with so few strokes. The curve of the back, the roundness of the shoulder, the delicate fingers – each line is placed with intention. The starkness of the drawing allows us to focus on the essential form, the gesture of the woman styling her hair. The line itself is neither thick nor thin, but consistent, allowing the eye to easily follow its path. There's a directness here, an honesty in the mark-making. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be complicated to be beautiful or convey meaning. The work of Picasso also comes to mind, with its similar use of line and focus on form, as if the artist is distilling the essence of the subject. It seems like art is this ongoing conversation, where ideas are exchanged and reinterpreted.