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

This illustration was made by Hryhorii Havrylenko for Mikhail Stelmakh's book 'In the Hedgehog's Windmill'. I can almost see the artist at work, bent over the paper, scratching away with their pen, creating this riotous scene. The ink is delicate and the marks feel spontaneous, as though Havrylenko let their imagination run wild. You’ve got all these critters dancing around like it’s some kind of woodland rave, and the windmill in the background adds a touch of folksy charm. It makes me wonder what Stelmakh's story was all about, and how Havrylenko’s vision brought it to life. I love how the bear seems to be caught mid-boogie, tossing something into the air while the hedgehogs cut a rug below. There’s a real sense of movement here, a joyful energy that practically jumps off the page. It reminds me of other narrative painters who use simple lines to tell complex stories, leaving space for us to fill in the gaps. It’s like they are saying, "Okay, it’s your turn now."