The authors of the publication of the series disclosing the evolution of the Russian drawing (18th - 20th century) analyze the period of five decades which separates the epoch of the brilliant sunrise of graphic arts in the first half of the 19th century from the time of its impetuous renaissance in the early 20th century. This period of the evolution of drawing and watercolor was marked with search and achievements. They took place in the atmosphere of different events and phenomena of artistic life that had no analogue in the past.