Illustration for the collection of short stories by Yevhen Gutsal "In the stork village" 1969

Editor: So, this is an illustration created in 1969 by Hryhorii Havrylenko, originally purposed for a collection of short stories titled "In the Stork Village." The artwork is composed in ink with a graphic arts printmaking style that makes it look like crosshatching. At first glance, it looks somewhat desolate or perhaps even harsh. How would you interpret this work, knowing it’s intended as an illustration? Curator: Harsh is an interesting word choice. It’s definitely not a gentle caress on the eyes, is it? The density of the lines almost suffocates the light. Knowing the context, though, “Stork Village,” makes me think of cycles – birth, death, the return of spring. The stork is a powerful symbol. This makes me consider, how might this style be symbolic? Perhaps the intensity reflects the struggles within the stories themselves, life’s hard edges etched sharply, mirroring rural realities or the human condition. It’s like trying to grasp smoke, isn’t it? What story do *you* think the illustration suggests? Editor: It is like trying to grab smoke. The image’s line art seems simple at first, yet the density is so detailed it adds such gravity to the scene! If anything it seems a dark subject is about to unfold in the stork village… Thanks, it’s been insightful hearing your interpretation of this artwork. Curator: And likewise for yours. Remember, sometimes art whispers, sometimes it shouts, but it always invites a conversation, both with the piece itself and within ourselves. Now I'm off to find the stork.