Illustration to Daniil Kharms' book "Fairy Tale" 1971

Editor: Here we have Hryhorii Havrylenko's "Illustration to Daniil Kharms' book "Fairy Tale"," a print on paper created in 1971. The king, surrounded by such geometric, almost cartoonish shapes, feels simultaneously grand and… inexpensive? What stands out to you? Curator: What I find fascinating is how the piece leverages the accessibility of printmaking to subvert notions of luxury traditionally associated with royalty. Look at the stark, almost childlike application of colour, the very opposite of meticulous oil painting for example. Editor: You mean that because the materials used aren't expensive it undermines the imagery of the king? Curator: Precisely! Think about the labor involved in printmaking versus, say, a hand-embroidered royal tapestry. Printmaking allows for mass production, democratizing the image of power, but also cheapening it, wouldn’t you agree? And the social context adds another layer, illustrating a Soviet-era fairy tale... Do you think that plays into the materials and style at all? Editor: Well, if the image had been painted with oils in a very baroque style, it might almost signal agreement with the opulence of royalty. But I see what you're saying: the accessible material reflects, perhaps satirizes, the narrative it accompanies. I hadn't thought of the materials themselves being such a deliberate choice. Curator: And this allows us to examine how artistic choices about materials can reshape the perception and status of familiar themes like power and narrative, leading us to question the established understanding and relationship with art. Editor: Right! So much to unpack when considering material. Thanks!