The Life of Monsieur de Molière takes its title from Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel about the life of the French playwright — an apt reference for a painting in which theatre, costume and constructed identity become almost impossible to separate. Rather than illustrating Molière or a particular scene, Novikov uses the theatrical world as raw material. A figure in elaborate historical dress occupies the centre of an action whose story remains deliberately unresolved. The image has the quality of something witnessed mid-performance: recognisable enough to suggest a narrative, but without giving the viewer its beginning or end. At 40 × 30 cm, it is an intimate painting, yet particularly rich in physical detail. Loose passages of exposed canvas sit alongside dense oil paint and areas of Florentine varnish, whose appearance changes with the light from deep brown-black to a warm golden sheen. These shifts are part of the actual painted surface and are difficult to reproduce fully on screen. This is the unique original painting, created by Andrey Novikov in his studio in 2026. It is not an edition or reproduction; the work offered here is the physical oil-on-canvas painting itself. Andrey Novikov The Life of Monsieur de Molière, 2026 Oil on canvas, Florentine varnish 40 × 30 cm Unique work Interest-free instalments are available. If you would prefer to experience the painting and its surface in person before deciding, select Enquire to arrange a private studio viewing.