Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Preliminary Sketch for the Box “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. Palekh, USSR, 1960s. Paper, graphite pencil 15 by 10 cm Condition report: Signs of handling; staining; wear to the drawing surface. Provenance: From the family archive of the Golikov dynasty. Original preliminary sketch by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, created at the initial stage of compositional development. Preserved in the artist’s family for over sixty years. An authentic record of the earliest stage of artistic creation. This small-format sheet captures the initial development of the composition for Ruslan and Lyudmila - the moment when the visual idea is still forming. The drawing outlines key figures and movement, establishes compositional rhythm, defines the directional flow of the scene. Rapid pencil strokes convey the motion of the horse, interaction between figures, the structure of the narrative space. Light shading indicates mass and tonal balance. Collecting & Investment Potential: Preliminary sketches by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are among the rarest surviving components of an artist’s practice. They are valued for documenting the origin of a composition, revealing the artist’s creative thinking, serving as the foundation for finished works. Such sheets are seldom preserved and rarely appear on the market.