Joseph Sima

huile sur toile
signé en bas à droite
exécuté en 1954

Collection Mrs. Josef Sima, Paris
Private Collection, France

Paris, Galerie Facchetti, Joseph Sima, 19 June 1959; catalogue, n.p., illustrated
Paris, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Joseph Sima, 7 November - 23 December 1968; catalogue, no. 66, pp. 68-69, illustrated
Prague, Galerie Nationale; Bratislava, Galerie Nationale de Slovaquie; Brno, Galerie Morave, Jospeh Sima, 1968; catalogue, no. 92, illustrated
Bochum, Museum de Bochum, Joseph Sima, 9 November 1974 - 5 January 1975; catalogue, no. 50, illustré
Paris, Galerie le Point Cardinal, 1975; catalogue, no. 11, illustrated
Geneva, Galerie Engelberts, Sima, Oeuvres de 1921 à 1970, May - June 1977; catalogue, no. 9, illustrated
Paris, Musée National d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Sima, 3 April - 21 June 1992; catalogue, no. 72, pp. 122-123, illustrated in colour

Frantisek Smejkal, Sima, Paris, 1992, no. 291, p. 274, illustrated

The colours are fairly accurate in the catalogue illustration. The work is executed on its original canvas and is not relined. There are light scattered cracks throughout the surface, mainly located by the upper edge. The dark green pigment is fragile and has resulted in some pinhole sized lacks. The canvas is slightly loose. Under Ultra Violet light inspection some of the above mentioned restored lacks fluoresce.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

“The artist’s or painter’s role is not to know the world. He is linked to it internally, he identifies with it and it illuminates his work with what he has seen so well.” Josef Sima

Josef Sima is one of the rare artists of his generation, if not the only artist as maintained by the great 20^th century art historian Meyer Schapiro, to have been able to perceive and transpose something cosmic in his painted works, whilst relying upon a particularly limited number of graphic elements. In Double Paysage, painted in 1954, the objects are fixed in a calm, dreamlike and serene atmosphere. As a true invitation to meditation, the canvas depicts a purified, dematerialized reality of moving simplicity and delicacy. The split objects break with traditional perspective and disturb spatial-temporal references. Sima here constructs a fantasmatic landscape of unprecedented scope within which any sense of scale and distance no longer exists. Brilliant.