Abstract Composition (Female Image) 1965

This abstract composition was made by Hryhorii Havrylenko using pen on paper. Look at the precision of these lines. There is something really satisfying about the way he's built up tone and texture through the repetitive application of hatching. It’s like the rhythm of thought itself, a process of layering and refining. The stark black ink against the bare paper creates an almost unsettling contrast. The solid areas on either side of the picture plane feel really weighty. These anchor the floating figure in the middle that feels almost like a wavering reflection, or maybe something more ghostly. The cross-hatching is really dense in places and the network of lines give the impression of a form caught in a tight mesh. I am reminded of the work of Agnes Martin. Both artists demonstrate a dedication to line and form, embracing ambiguity and prompting us to look beyond the surface for multiple interpretations.