Sim Acquisition, Drawing and War

Barcelona, Spain
José Luis Rey Vila

Image credit

José Luis Rey Vila, ‘Militiaman with a Pipe’. © Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. On deposit from the Government of Catalonia. National Art Collection.

Meet the artist

José Luis Rey Vila

The Movement

Drawing

Exhibition Highlights - What you’ll see

Discover the moving work of José Luis Rey Vila (1900–1983), the artist from Cádiz better known by his pseudonym, Sim. As one of the most remarkable storytellers of the Spanish Civil War, Sim left behind a vivid and personal record of the conflict, particularly the struggles faced in Barcelona.

This exhibition brings together nearly fifty drawings recently acquired by the Museu Nacional. Continuing our ongoing series of work dedicated to this period of history, these pieces highlight Sim’s incredible skill and emotional depth. His art takes you through a wide range of experiences—from the intense heat of battle between soldiers to the heart-wrenching evacuations of families and everyday people.

Barcelona, Spain

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