Geometric Composition 1966

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this Geometric Composition in 1966 using ink on paper, just look at it! The varying density of the hatching creates tonal variation and the illusion of depth. You get a sense of the artist’s hand, one careful mark at a time. This kind of meditative process is what artmaking is all about. The texture of the paper shows through the delicate ink lines, creating a subtle interplay between the drawn and the untouched surfaces. The contrast between the open, white space and the areas filled with dense cross-hatching is so stark, but it’s within the balance of this asymmetry that the work really comes alive. Notice the way the lines shift direction in the central square, it's like a subtle nod to movement within the static composition. I think Agnes Martin would have loved this. The piece reminds us that art isn't about perfect representation, but about offering a different way to think about the world.