Ivan Mikhailovich Sokolov (Иван Михайлович Евдокимов), son of a village blacksmith, lost both his parents in early childhood.

In 1885–1888, Mashkov assisted Konstantin Bykovsky [ru] on Devichye Pole campus planning and August Weber [de] on the completion of Polytechnical Museum in Moscow.

The majolica mosaic of a falcon flying over a stormy sea was made by Nikolai Sapunov (of Mir Iskusstva art group).

The subject of this picture itself is a double citation – from Maxim Gorky's Song of a falcon (1899) and from nearby Moscow Art Theater's Seagull symbol (1903).

Mashkov's work prior to Sokol belongs to traditional muscovite eclectics and moderate Russian Revival of 1880s-1890s, and does not stand out among hundreds of similar buildings of this period.

Mashkov completed two private buildings (Tverskoy Pawn Shop and Eggert Apartments) in a stern, Saint Petersburg version of this style.

Like many contemporary architects, Mashkov was keen on studying and preserving historical national architecture, and in 1898 joined the Moscow Archaeological Society [fr; ru; uk].

In 1908-1918, he also co-chaired Moscow Architectural Society and contributed to the construction of House of Architects (17, Yermolayevsky Lane, currently Museum of Modern Art).