The collection is dedicated to the life and work of one of the leading representatives of the art association "World of Art." It included letters and diaries (1889-1939) of K. A. Somov, letters to him, articles devoted to his life and work, and memoirs of contemporaries. Almost all material is published for the first time. The recordings and letters of K. A. Somov give a wide panorama of the cultural life of Russia, Germany, America and France over four decades, including not only fine art, but also literature, music, and theater. A portion of the illustrative material is also a first publication.