Šíma's monumental painting Země sold at auction for nearly CZK 60.5 million

Josef Šíma's painting Země (Earth) was sold today at an auction held at Žofín Palace in Prague for CZK 60.48 million, including the auction surcharge, setting a new world auction record for the artist. Markéta Horešovská from Galerie Kodl confirmed the milestone. The monumental work from 1960 is now among the ten most expensive paintings ever auctioned in Czechia.

Země is Šíma's (1891–1971) largest painting. It began the auction with a starting price of CZK 10 million and ultimately sold for CZK 50.4 million before the auction surcharge was added.

The painting is considered the pinnacle of Šíma's second creative phase, which began in the 1950s after a break from artistic production. It embodies the hallmarks of his post-war work: muted colors, abstracted forms, and profound metaphysical undertones. Originally, the painting was part of the collection of Parisian art collector and gallerist Paul Facchetti.