Trees 1966

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this painting, titled "Trees," with oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is the way he builds up the forms. It’s not about illusion, but about layering and constructing. The surface is alive with the marks of the brush, the paint isn't shy. Thick strokes define the canopies, creating a tangible texture. The greens are earthy and muted, not trying to be too sweet or pretty. Look at the edges of those trees, how they're not quite defined, but blurred and smudged into the blue of the sky. It's like Havrylenko is saying, "this is paint, this is process." It reminds me a little of Milton Avery, that same love for simplified forms and a limited palette. Both artists understand that painting is a conversation, a way of seeing and thinking about the world. It’s not about capturing reality but creating a new one, a world of color and texture, where ambiguity reigns.