- Josef Šíma
Josef Šíma(
March 18 ,1891 -July 24 ,1971 ) was a renowned Czech painter, an important figure of modern European art.Biography
After graduating from Academy of Arts in
Prague where he was the student of Jan Preisler he was involved in theDevětsil movement and in Umělecká beseda in Prague before travelling toParis in 1921. He took French citizenship in 1926. He was artistic director for the journal "Le Grand Jeu" in 1929 and friend of Frenchpoet sRené Daumal ,Roger Gilbert-Lecomte andRoger Vailland .Style
His sources of inspiration spanned from sensual experience, through civil themes,
geometric abstraction , imaginative seeking ofarchetype s of nature, things and human existence pictured ascrystal s,cosmic egg and femaletorso s to fascination by landscapes and mythology, until he finally united all these elements and made asynthesis of them in cosmic visions and symbols of human destiny.He exhibited at
documenta 2 in 1959. He also illustrated manybook s, made book covers,scenic painting s and designed stained glass windows (e. g. in The Church of St Jacques inReims ).External links
* [http://www.the-artists.org/ArtistView.cfm?id=529E16E7-8DF2-4F46-8967B33514CA606A the-artists.org entry]
* [http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/sima_josef.html Art Encyclopedia entry]
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