Boris Shcherbakov was a prominent Russian painter and graphic artist known for his surrealist and symbolist works. He was born in Moscow and studied at the Moscow State Art Institute. After graduation, he worked as a book illustrator and graphic designer before devoting himself to painting in the 1960s. Shcherbakov's early works were influenced by Russian folk art and the neo-primitivist movement. In the 1950s, he began experimenting with surrealism, creating fantastical landscapes and dreamlike compositions. His paintings often feature strange, otherworldly creatures and architectural structures, which reflect his interest in metaphysics and the occult.