Susanna 1974

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this drawing called Susanna, in what looks like graphite on paper. It’s a portrait, but more than that, it’s a study of light, and how light can shape a face, give it volume, and even suggest a mood. I’m really drawn to the subtlety of Havrylenko’s technique here. The marks are so delicate, almost like whispers. Look closely at the way he’s rendered the hair, using these soft, feathery lines that seem to float around the head. And the shadows under the cheekbone and along the jawline are just barely there, but they’re enough to give the face depth and dimension. It’s like he’s building up the image layer by layer, each stroke adding to the overall effect. This piece reminds me of some of Lucian Freud’s drawings, in the way that it captures the fragility and vulnerability of the human form. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what we see, but how we see it, and how we can use art to explore the world around us in new and meaningful ways.