N.A. Tarkhoff's style was greatly influenced by impressionism, which became a peculiar school of painting new to the artist, harmonious to his outlook, based on the humanistic perception of reality. The artist's picturesque heritage is little studied in Russia and abroad. The most significant papers, giving comprehensive analysis of his works, belong to Gaston Diehl, M. and A. Leblond brothers, V. Volodarsky. Art review of the artist's paintings becomes the basic method of tracing N. A. Tarkhoff's style formation. The use of the method proves the connection of his art with impressionist paintings and its further reconsideration, which led the artist to the adequate perception of Fauvism. The changes of the artist's manner and touch are determined when analysing the picturesque structure of the canvas. The gradual transition from a fractional, jerky stroke to spots of local colour is the omen of his fauvist experiments. Tarkhov was prepared for perception of new art. This refers to his training in K. Korovin's workshop in Russia, which played a significant role in his creative self-determination, his recognition of himself as an artist distinct from the Russian academic school of those years. Here Tarkhov learnt the necessary valuable skills related to painting, composition and colour. In 1900 Tarkhov went to Paris to visit the World exhibition that had a great influence on the definition of his artistic sets. This grandiose exposition was a significant event for artists of the twentieth century. There was the 'self-identification' of art which further resulted in a new step of development of world culture. The classical impressionist, whose paintings concentrated the most valuable achievements of impressionism, Monet becomes the standard of impressionist attitude. The originality, which Tarkhoff reached, in many respects, consisted not only in maintenance of national originality or personal attitude in painting, but also in development by contact with various influences revealing all the complexity of the world. The prerequisites for N.A. Tarkhoff's style formation in the impressionist art school were training with K. Korovin, visiting the World Expo and large retrospective shows and expositions; perception of K. Monet's creative works. The picturesque manner gradually calms down from the fractional and flailing intuitive stroke becomes more conscious, conveying the general idea. Denial of sketch experience and desire to realize the value of expressiveness of colour lead Tarkhoff to Fauvism. The artist went into a stage of comprehension of lessons learned under the influence of new trends in French painting. Impressionistic period was of great importance for the development of all Tarkhoff's art. Under its influence the basic stylistic features of his painting were generated (lively stroke, composition's sketchiness, choice of topics), the artist freed from the pressure of the academic tradition and reaffirmed the right to intuitively understand the need to paint the joy of life.
