This beautiful soft ground and aquatint piece titled, 'Boulevard Saint-Martin in Winter', Paris 1914was made by well listed Czechoslovakian artist, Tavik František Šimon. This evocative early 20th century artwork depicts Paris' busy tree-lined Boulevard Saint-Martin in the throes of winter. There is a flight of steps covered with snow on the left with a pair of distinctive Parisian kiosks plastered with colorful handbills visible in the distance. A solitary figure stands in the foreground as if waiting for carriage and motorcar traffic to thin out, enabling him to cross the street. The opposite side of the boulevard is thronged with the hustle and bustle of the city, with a plethora of vehicles and pedestrian foot traffic jostling along the street and sidewalks. In effect, Šimon has captured a snapshot of Paris at the twilight of the Belle Époque, a period in history when the arts flourished in the city.

The artwork is in very good antique condition and it displays beautifully. That said, the piece has not been removed from the frame and it appears that there may be a small water stain at the lower right hand side, which is not easily noticed and proved difficult to photograph, The artwork is pencil signed on the lower right with Šimon's signaure and bears his "TFS" monogram in the center. Šimon has pencilled the number of the edition in the lower left corner. The piece is catalogued as number 220 in the 'Catalogue Raisonné' by Arthur Novak.

The visible portion of the artwork measures 18.5" x 16.5" while the framed dimensions are 20.5" x 18.5". The dark brown wooden frame itself is 1" wide and complements the artwork's sepia tones. The piece is wired horizontally on the back and is housed under glass, making it ready to hang upon receipt. The artwork and frame have a total weight of 3lbs 13oz.

This visually arresting piece would be a wonderful addition to a collection of early 20th century artworks and is sure to get attention wherever it is displayed. A beautiful antique find!

More about the artist:
TF Šimon was born in Bohemia in 1877 and was accepted to study at the Academy of Arts in Prague in 1894. He set up a studio in Paris in 1904 and honed his craft there, becoming known for his lively "Paysages de Paris" - Parisian landscapes - which he was able to capture with the fresh eyes of someone new to the Parisian scene. Šimon's talents lead him to travel to America as well as the Orient. The artist accepted a position as head of graphic arts at the Academy of Arts in Prague in 1928, which he held until 1939 when the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia. Šimon died in December of 1942.

Šimon's works experienced a resurgence of interest after the end of the Communist Era, and the artist was featured in an exhibition in Prague at the National Gallery in 1994. In 2002, Šimon was again featured at locations in New York and Chicago.