Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Painting “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife” (Tamara Ivanovna Golikova). Palekh, USSR, 1986. Canvas on board, egg tempera. 34 by 26 cm (visible); 38 by 30 cm (framed) Condition report: Set in a wooden frame. Pigment marks along the edges, fading of the paint layer. Signs of biological impact (dark spots) on the left side. Inventory markings and surface wear on the reverse; canvas partially detached. Provenance: From the artist’s family collection. Created and preserved in the home of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. A portrait of the artist’s wife, Sofya Mikhailovna Golikova. Previously not offered on the market. An exceptionally rare example of portrait painting within the oeuvre of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. The composition is centered on the seated figure, integrated into a stylized landscape environment. The image is rendered in a generalized decorative manner, emphasizing silhouette, rhythm, and form. The background incorporates characteristic elements of the Palekh tradition - stylized hills, architectural motifs, and ornamental vegetation - creating a unified pictorial space. Executed in egg tempera, the work combines fine linear detailing with subtle decorative accents. The easel format reveals the extension of the artist’s visual language beyond lacquer miniature. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are held in major museum collections. Portrait works by the artist are extremely rare and hold particular significance as both artistic and personal documents. A rare portrait of personal significance. Works of this type seldom appear on the market.