Long-Lost Josef Šíma Masterpiece Europa to be Auctioned at Freeman's After Century-Long Absence
A significant painting by Czech modernist Josef Šíma, titled Europa and created in 1927, has been rediscovered after nearly a century out of public view. The work was found in a private collection in Philadelphia and will be sold at Freeman's New York auction house on April 29, 2026, during their Impressionist and Modern Art sale. Art historian Rea Michalová has described the find as an exceptional rediscovery, noting its close resemblance to Šíma's celebrated version held by the Moravian Gallery in Brno. Raphaël Chatroux, head of the Impressionist and Modern Art department at Freeman's, expressed enthusiasm about presenting this previously unknown work to collectors and scholars.
Key facts
- Josef Šíma's painting Europa from 1927 has been rediscovered after almost 100 years
- The artwork was located in a Philadelphia collection
- It will be auctioned at Freeman's New York on April 29, 2026
- Scholar Rea Michalová called it 'the rediscovery of the century'
- The painting is similar to Šíma's well-known version in the Moravian Gallery in Brno
Entities
Artists
- Josef Šíma
Institutions
- Freeman's
- Moravian Gallery
Locations
- Philadelphia
- New York
- Paris
- Brno
- Czech Republic