Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Painting “Haymaking”. Palekh, Russia, 1995. Canvas on board, egg tempera. 34 × 26 cm (stretcher); 38 × 30.5 cm (framed) Condition report: Set in the artist’s wooden frame. Pigment marks along the edges, fading of the paint layer. Inventory markings and signs of handling on the reverse and stretcher. Provenance: From the family collection of the Golikov dynasty. Created and preserved by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. A rare example of easel painting by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, created in 1995 during the artist’s later period. The work translates the visual language of Palekh miniature painting into a larger-scale painted composition. The subject reflects one of the artist’s central themes, developed here in a more expansive format. A central tree structure organizes the composition, dividing the scene into two parts with figures of a reaper and a mower. The figures are rendered through expressive silhouettes and rhythmic movement. The landscape incorporates characteristic Palekh elements - stylized hills, architectural motifs, and decorative vegetation - forming a cohesive pictorial structure. Executed in egg tempera, the work demonstrates refined linear detailing and subtle gold accents. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are held in major museum collections. Easel paintings by the artist are exceptionally rare, as the majority of his oeuvre consists of lacquer miniatures. A rare large-format painting expanding the artist’s traditional medium. Works of this type are seldom encountered on the market.