oil on canvas
1962
on the reverse
150 × 105 cm
framed
The large-scale canvas Boat Carriers is a particularly compelling example of Adriena Šimotová’s early work. It was created during a period when she drew on figurative subjects, while increasingly subjecting their recognisable forms to stylisation and simplification into flat shapes. At the time, Šimotová was one of the founding members and leading figures of UB 12, a loosely organised group of artists united by their respect for individuality and authenticity of artistic expression. Within the group, she developed a distinctive lyrical figurative style in which an interest in the human condition and everyday reality gradually became intertwined with a loosening of pictorial form.
The presented painting thus stands on the threshold of a transformation in her artistic language, which, from 1963 onwards, was characterised by increasing simplification and a gradual move towards a more abstract mode of expression. The work’s exceptional significance is further underscored by the fact that Šimotová took a highly critical view of some of her earlier work and later destroyed a number of her early pieces, particularly those dating from the 1950s. The two figures carrying a boat are set against a uniform ochre background and transformed into a dynamic arrangement of vertical and diagonal lines. The human figures and the vessel are reduced to interlocking geometric planes, whose rhythm emphasises the movement and physical exertion of the two carriers. The restrained, subtly nuanced palette is dominated by black, grey and earthy tones, complemented by accents of pale blue and burgundy.
Despite its high degree of stylisation, the work retains a strong human dimension, powerfully evoking collective effort, movement and the delicate balance of the burden being carried. The combination of its generous scale, balanced composition and refined palette makes it a particularly representative and rare example of Šimotová’s work from the early 1960s.
Condition consistent with age. The painting comes from a distinguished Moravian collection. The work was assessed during consultations with the Adriena Šimotová and Jiří John Endowment Fund. An expert opinion by PhDr. J. Machalický is attached.
