Female image 1975

This is a portrait of a woman, created by Hryhorii Havrylenko, with what looks like a pen on paper. Look at how he's created the shape and depth of the figure using just simple hatching and cross-hatching. The magic here lies in the density of the lines, shifting from sparse, light touches to tighter, darker areas to suggest form. Notice the almost net-like quality of the hair, built up from layers of tiny strokes. It’s interesting how the hatching not only defines the shape, but also feels like a kind of emotional weather surrounding the subject. For me, this simplicity is so powerful. It reminds me of the drawings of Agnes Martin, which are equally minimal but convey so much with just a few marks on paper. It's a testament to how much can be said with very little, embracing the idea that art is an ongoing conversation across time and form.