Female Image (Kora) 1965

Curator: Today, we're observing "Female Image (Kora)," a graphite drawing by Hryhorii Havrylenko, dating back to 1965. It's currently held in a private collection. Editor: My immediate reaction is drawn to the hatching technique, the closely spaced parallel lines. They create this enveloping sense of serenity but also… a certain reserve, like the subject is holding back. Curator: I think that reserve is interesting, especially when we consider the broader cultural context. In Ukrainian art, the "Kora" image—often referencing Kore, the Greek goddess associated with spring and renewal—traditionally represents youthful beauty and purity. However, Havrylenko gives us something more introspective. Editor: Absolutely. It is less of an idealized goddess and more a woman observed and quietly captured. The simple graphite medium lends a directness that underscores this. Do you see how the limited tonal range—the blacks and whites—reinforces this idea of a direct, unfiltered observation? Curator: Indeed. Furthermore, it's important to view it not only as a study of feminine ideals, but of the socio-political elements too. During the 1960s, artistic expression in the Soviet Union, including Ukraine, was heavily influenced by censorship and socialist realism, yet within these constraints, you have Ukrainian artists exploring universal themes such as beauty and the female form with an expressive sense of form, however simplistic it may look. Editor: That gives added weight to that feeling of reserve I sensed. She is not just holding back in her posture but in the quiet resistance of Havrylenko's artistic decisions within those parameters. What strikes you most as the symbolic essence within the composition itself? Curator: How Havrylenko’s deliberate strokes, while creating a realistic face, evoke emotionality of the cultural memory through such elemental symbolism and style. Editor: For me, this image exemplifies how limitations breed creativity and allow individual voices to speak. It's more than just a face, it’s a quietly resilient statement.