Female image 1965

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this drawing of a female image with ink on paper. Just look at this drawing – what a poignant image. I can see the artist’s hand moving, searching, across the paper, feeling their way through the blank space. The way the line doubles and wobbles, it’s like Havrylenko is having a conversation with themself, figuring out the form as they go. The ink is so direct and honest. It feels like we’re getting a peek into the artist's mind, seeing the world through their eyes. I wonder if they were grappling with the complexities of representation, maybe wrestling with tradition while trying to find their own voice. I feel kinship with Havrylenko, that shared struggle to express something authentic through the simple act of drawing.