Nude 1975

This is a work called Nude by Hryhorii Havrylenko, it's in a private collection. Look at how Havrylenko makes line behave here. It is not descriptive, but alive. I can imagine the artist, with ink, perhaps, allowing their hand to roam over the surface, mapping a body. How the hand on her chest becomes a kind of shield, a mystery, drawing you in. Her gaze is direct and present, yet the gesture is of hiding. The artist uses the material quality of simple line to capture both the external form and the internal essence of his subject. It reminds me a bit of Matisse, but with a vulnerability that feels very personal. It is as though the artist is in conversation with others, exchanging ideas across time, inspiring creativity. It leaves you with more questions than answers, right?