Composition 1963

This vibrantly colored ‘Composition’ was painted by Hryhorii Havrylenko, although we don’t know exactly when. The artist used generous strokes of oil paint on paper to create this striking piece. The thickness of the paint gives the artwork a tangible, almost sculptural quality. You can practically feel the artist’s hand moving across the surface, building up layers of color and texture. Havrylenko clearly relished the materiality of his chosen medium. Notice the way the different colors interact – the bold reds, blues, yellows, greens and blacks pushing and pulling against each other, creating a dynamic sense of movement. It’s as if the artist is exploring the potential of oil paint itself, pushing it to its limits to see what it can do. Ultimately, the importance of materials, making, and context helps us understand the full meaning of an artwork, and challenges any distinction between fine art and craft.