Mosaics 1966

Hryhorii Havrylenko created this mosaic portrait, sometime during his career as a Ukranian artist working under Soviet rule. The image, composed of small tiles, depicts a fair-skinned woman with a solemn gaze. The use of mosaic as a medium is interesting when considered against the cultural backdrop of the Soviet Union. Mosaics, often employed in grand, public art projects, were used to promote the ideals of the state, yet here we see the technique used for a private, intimate portrait. Consider the role of women in Soviet society at this time. Were they celebrated, but also confined to certain roles? What does it mean to create an image of a woman with such a direct, unwavering stare? The work invites us to contemplate the unspoken narratives and individual experiences that might be found, even within the confines of a tightly controlled society.