Female image 1975

Here's a drawing, medium unknown, by Hryhorii Havrylenko, date unknown, called "Female Image." The hatching on the head is so simple, just diagonal lines close together, but it describes the form perfectly. It's a reminder that you don't need a million details to capture something real. I’m drawn to the way the artist used such simple lines to create form and volume. The face is softly modeled, a stark contrast to the flat, blank expanse of the body. Those lines around the eyes are particularly effective, giving her a look that’s both pensive and direct. The texture of the paper is part of the image, too. It’s not hidden or covered up. It feels honest, like the artist wasn't trying to hide anything. It reminds me a little of some of Agnes Martin's drawings. The same kind of quiet, understated power. Art’s like a conversation that never ends, a back-and-forth across time.