Illustrations for Mikhail Stelmakh's book "In the Hedgehog's Windmill" 1956

Hryhorii Havrylenko made these delicate ink illustrations for a book called "In the Hedgehog's Windmill," and it feels like looking into another world, doesn't it? It's like turning the pages of a children's book. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. The little girl gathering goodies in her basket is so cute. She looks so focused and determined, it reminds me of my little niece. And then there are the plants. Havrylenko captures the details of the leaves and flowers with such tenderness, each line drawn with care and precision. I wonder what Havrylenko was thinking about when he made these illustrations? Did he have a favorite garden when he was a boy? Maybe his own children were his inspiration? It's like he's inviting us to step into a world of imagination and possibility. That's what I love about painting and drawing, it's an ongoing conversation across time.