Beatrice to Dante's "Vita Nova" 1975

Curator: Hryhorii Havrylenko’s "Beatrice to Dante’s 'Vita Nova',” created in 1975, is an ink on paper drawing of a somber woman with a halo-like hood around her face. Editor: It feels so intensely meditative. The hatching creates this almost vibrating surface that pulls me in. You can really feel the hand of the artist in it. Curator: The density of the lines, applied with pen, builds areas of tone and shape. Note how Havrylenko modulates the weight of the strokes to construct form, moving between lighter, airier passages in the face and denser cross-hatching in the background. It shows clear classical art training in its delicate lines. Editor: Absolutely, but there’s also something profoundly process-oriented about it. Look at the unwavering repetition of the lines, like a form of meditative labor. It begs the question of time and intent: how much dedication went into meticulously creating this image layer by layer. Curator: One can interpret this as Havrylenko connecting to themes within Dante's work, such as idealised love and spiritual reflection, drawing parallels with the literary subject of Dante's love for Beatrice. There is a dreamlike quality here that is so intriguing. Editor: That is an insightful take. Given that drawing has historically been seen as a preliminary exercise for grander painting projects, what statement does Havrylenko make by foregrounding it here, especially with such tactile handling of the medium? Curator: The figure appears timeless, removed from a specific period. One could find this artistic statement both captivating and perhaps even problematic for those seeking social narratives. Editor: It makes one consider how even an art so historically weighted as portraiture can also evolve through labor and technique. Curator: A superb example of finding resonance in Dante's classic and then responding to the call. Editor: I have gained so much appreciation for the hand and craft that’s imbedded in this simple-seeming line work.