Bidspirit auction | Ivan Ivanovich Golikov (1887–1937)

Ivan Ivanovich Golikov (1887–1937) - Panel “Three Musicians”. Palekh, USSR, 1928. Wood, egg tempera, lacquer. 15 by 11 cm Condition report:  Craquelure; losses to the lacquer and paint layers. Provenance: From the family collection of the Golikov dynasty. An authentic work by Ivan Ivanovich Golikov, created in 1928 - during the formative period of Palekh lacquer miniature as a new artistic movement. Preserved within the artist’s family. A work at the origin of the Palekh tradition. In Three Musicians , Ivan Ivanovich Golikov establishes a visual language that would define the school for decades. The composition is structured through rhythm - three figures unified by musical motion, gestures and postures forming a continuous flow, the scene unfolding as a visual score. The palette is highly concentrated - luminous blues, corals, and greens, deep black ground and strong contrast creating internal radiance. The artistic approach is marked by freedom of line economy of detail and a sense of improvisation within precise structure. Despite age-related wear, the work retains the energy of its moment. It's a direct expression of a style in formation. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Ivan Ivanovich Golikov from the 1920s are foundational to the history of Russian art. They are significant because they represent the birth of Palekh lacquer painting, are created by the founder of the school and are extremely rare on the open market. Comparable works are predominantly held in museum collections.