Female Image 1964

Hryhorii Havrylenko painted this enigmatic portrait, "Female Image," sometime during his lifetime, which spanned much of the Soviet era in Ukraine. Havrylenko lived through Stalinism and the post-Stalinist thaw. Here, the female figure's gaze is direct and unwavering, set against a backdrop of vibrant blue. Her skin is rendered in a striking palette of oranges and yellows. The sitter wears a cap with a decorative square, perhaps a subtle nod to Ukrainian folk traditions amidst the uniformity imposed by Soviet cultural policies. Havrylenko's choice to portray her with such bold color and directness could be seen as a quiet act of defiance, celebrating individuality within a system that often sought to erase it. Havrylenko offers us a study in the nuances of identity, and how the experience of womanhood is shaped by historical forces. The painting resonates with a quiet strength, embodying both the personal and the political dimensions of life under Soviet rule.