Tavík František Šimon, 1877 – 1942

Self-portrait, Tavík František Šimon, etching, 1932

Tavík František Šimon (1877-1942) was a painter, etcher, and woodcut artist. Born in 1877 in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), Šimon studied for 6 years at the Academy of Art in Prague before embarking on world travels in 1900 that would continue for the rest of his life. Šimon moved to Paris in 1903 and discovered contemporary French color prints; he was also heavily influenced by Impressionism. He began exhibiting frequently at several of the Salons and became a member in 1906 of the Société de la Gravure Originale en Couleurs, also working closely with the Parisian publisher Georges Petit.

Although Šimon made many black and white etchings, color aquatints became his medium of choice later in his career. His Parisian studio was located at 83 boulevard du Montparnasse, just a few blocks from the Girls’ Art Club. A 1905 drypoint engraving, “At the Académie Colarossi,” tells us that Šimon was well-acquainted with the young students and ateliers of the quarter. He counted among his close friends the painter and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha, who lived and worked for many years around the corner from the Girls’ Art Club on the rue de la Grande Chaumière.

It is not yet know how and when the 15 aquatints (see bottom and sidebar photos) in Reid Hall's archives (Columbia University Art Properties) came to 4 rue de Chevreuse. In a report on life at Reid Hall, director Dorothy Leet note that his prints adorned the five salons in the University Women's Club (245).

"At the Académie Colarossi, Paris", Tavik Frantisek Šimon, 1905, drypoint etching

During his years in Paris, Šimon traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa, returning to Prague in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI. After the war, Šimon came back to France and documented the severe damage sustained by the Rheims Cathedral in a series of stark black and white etchings. He continued exhibiting his work in Paris and also in London, Chicago, and New York. Although his subjects often varied depending on his exotic travels, Šimon’s love for his native Prague and his adopted Paris are exemplified by the sheer number of works depicting both great cities.

In 1937, Šimon was honored with a catalogue raisonné of his 626 prints, written in Czech and published by his friend Arthur Novák. Šimon died in December 1942 at the age of sixty-five, leaving behind a prolific and well-respected legacy of printmaking.

 

Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "Sur le Quai, Paris," 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "Breton Clog Sellers," 1911, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, ", color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "" 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "," 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "," 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "," 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives
Tavík František Šimon
Tavík František Šimon, "," 1907, color aquatint. RH Archives

Sources

  • Leet, Dorothy. "Reid Hall: Franco-American Center in Paris." American Society of the French Légion d'Honneur Magazine, vol. 9, no. 3, 1939, pp. 244-249.