Female (Pushkin) image 1975

This portrait of a woman after Pushkin was made by Hryhorii Havrylenko using pen on paper. The artist uses the simple materials of pen and paper to create an evocative image. The labor involved in such a drawing can be easy to overlook, but consider that the entire image is made of hatching -- literally thousands of tiny strokes, closely laid, building up areas of tone. Look closely and you can see this concentrated labor. Pen and ink drawings like this one have an important place in the history of art, predating printing. They're a reminder that art is as much about the commitment of the hand as it is about expressive intention. Remember, understanding how something is made – and the effort that goes into it – is essential to understanding its full meaning. It’s a reminder that even the simplest materials can be transformed through dedication and skill.