Vladimir Petrovich Panov was born in 1931 in Moscow. He graduated from the graphics department of the Moscow Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov (currently the Moscow State Academic Art Institute). There, Vladimir Panov studied in the book workshop under Professor Boris Aleksandrovich Dekhteryov.

Vladimir Petrovich Panov created a series of illustrations for Mikhail Lermontov’s play “Masquerade” that consisted of 50 graphic works. The collection was transferred to the fund of the Mikhail Lermontov State Museum-Reserve. These illustrations can be called Panov’s graphic contemplation of the Lermontov era, the fate of the play’s characters, and the timeless question of good and evil.

The work on display depicts the scene at the baroness’ house — the fourth subscene of the first scene in the second act. The paper sheet portrays Nina and Prince Zvezdich. Baroness Strahl has stepped aside to talk to the clerk, and the prince starts a conversation with Nina about the bracelet and feelings.

Zvezdich says to Nina:

Vladimir Panov placed the figures of Nina and Prince Zvezdich in the interior of the room. They are shifted to the right side of the sheet. Nina is depicted sitting on a high-back chair, her right elbow resting on the edge of the table. She has a bracelet on her arm, and her eyes are downcast.

Her outerwear includes a poke bonnet — a women’s headdress that combines the features of a cap and a hat. A shelf with a candlestick and a vase can be seen behind Nina’s back. Prince Zvezdich stands to her left and leans on the back of another chair. He is dressed in a military frock coat with epaulets, that is, military insignia. The whole composition is performed in light warm colors.

Panov’s illustrations for Mikhail Lermontov’s play “Masquerade” were created for the Detgiz Publishing House and were included in the special 1983 edition with a print run of 50,000 copies.