1. * AR Oleg Tselkov (Russian/French, 1934-2021) Pipe, beer and crayfish/ Pipe, bière et écrevisses signed in Cyrillic, dated and dedicated: "To Tanechka - for luck" (verso) oil on canvas 56.5 x 39.5cm (22 1/4 x 15 9/16in). signed in Cyrillic, dated and inscribed with dedication:'To Tanechka - for luck' (verso) oil on canvas Provenance Family of the artist Oleg Tselkov, a prominent figure in Soviet non-conformist art, dedicated almost his entire creative life to exploring a single theme that he discovered in the 1960s. This theme centred around the metaphysical questions: "What is a human being?" and "What is personality?" These profound inquiries formed the core of Tselkov's artistic pursuit, shaping his unique style and approach to art. Tselkov's early works, including preset "Pipe, Beer and Crayfish" (1957), are particularly valuable from an artistic perspective. They vividly reflect the breadth of his artistic explorations, which ultimately led to the formation of his distinctive, individual style. At the dawn of his creative journey, Tselkov turned to the achievements of the avant-garde, drawing inspiration from the styles of Konchalovsky, Matisse, and others to forge his unique artistic language. "Pipe, Beer and Crayfish" represents a significant departure from traditional realism. At first glance, the painting appears to be a jumble of cubist forms. Only upon detailed examination do the depicted objects - a crayfish, beer, and a pipe - emerge through the expressive forms. The work shows clear references to Fauvism and Cubo-Futurism. The sharp angles and deformed shapes of the objects, along with the absence of details, create expressiveness using minimal means. The simple composition suddenly appears as a massive mountain, where only the general is visible, and the particular is hidden. Tselkov's approach to colour in this work is particularly noteworthy. As he stated about his early explorations: "In those times, they taught realism, they taught it correctly, but why waste time drawing something that looks similar? 'What about colour?' But who will know what shade of violet the rag was." This philosophy is evident in "Pipe, Beer and Crayfish," where he likely uses bold, non-naturalistic colours to create a vibrant and expressive composition. The painting is characterized by local colours, an expressive and laconic language, sharp lines, and exaggerated proportions. These elements, which became hallmarks of Tselkov's style, are already present in this early work. The desire to go beyond academic art led Tselkov to such stylistic experiments, of which "Pipe, Beer and Crayfish" is a prime example. This painting stands as a testament to Tselkov's early experimentation and his journey from academic realism to a more expressive, individualistic style. It embodies his philosophical inquiries into the nature of humanity and personality, rendered in a visual language that challenges conventional representation. This work represents a crucial step in Oleg Tselkov's artistic oeuvre. It showcases his ability to synthesize influences from various avant-garde movements while maintaining his unique vision. This painting not only demonstrates Tselkov's technical skill and artistic daring but also offers insight into his lifelong exploration of profound existential questions through art.