A Journey to Slovakia

Šimák's oil painting A Journey to Slovakia gently captures a glimpse into the everyday life and joys of ordinary people in postwar Czechoslovakia with light brushstrokes. A couple in swimsuits, resting under the shade of a sprawling tree, each with their car parked nearby, enjoys a summer holiday by a pond, escaping the urban environment. The painter's delicate color palette further enhances the sense of tranquility and harmony, reflecting the optimism and hope for a better future that was characteristic of the 1960s. This work is an exceptionally charming example of the artist’s craft, as if he were destined for painting, being related to Mikoláš Aleš, his godfather.