Female image 1975

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this drawing of a woman with ink, and it’s so immediate! Look how the hatching becomes a way of describing light and shadow, but also of building form. Each line feels purposeful, like the artist is thinking through the weight and placement of the figure. I love how the simple lines create a sense of depth and volume, especially in the face and hair. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper, trying to capture something essential about the sitter. What was she like, I wonder? It reminds me of the way some abstract painters build up layers of marks to create a complex surface. There's a real push-and-pull between representation and abstraction. It makes me think about the conversations artists have across time. Each one leaves a trace, inspiring someone else to pick up a pen or brush and keep the dialogue going. There is a real sense of discovery in those lines.