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

This line drawing by Hryhorii Havrylenko is an illustration for Mikhail Stelmakh's book 'In the Hedgehog's Windmill'. It’s a busy little world isn’t it? The drawing looks like it was made quickly with a pen. The lines are scratchy and energetic, and they don't always connect. See how the bear in the middle looks like he's dancing? The artist uses short, broken lines to create the illusion of fur. It’s as though the drawing is trying to capture a fleeting moment, like a memory. The windmill is suggested by a few lines, almost like shorthand. Now, look at the bottom. See the little rabbit, the hedgehog and the other creatures, all holding hands, dancing? It reminds me of folk art and children’s book illustrations. Maybe think of someone like Richard Scarry, but wilder. It's the kind of drawing that embraces imperfection, reminding us that art is a process, not a perfect product. It's about feeling and imagination, rather than precise representation.