The artist José Luis Rey Vila (Cádiz, 1900 – Paris, 1983), better known as Sim, left one of the most vivid testimonies of the misery of the Spanish Civil War, particularly in Barcelona. As part of the line of work initiated years ago by the Museum focused on the Spanish Civil War, nearly fifty drawings by this artist that have been recently acquired by the Museu Nacional will be on display. All of them were produced during the period of the Spanish Civil War, of which Sim was one of the most outstanding chroniclers.

These works exemplify his great quality and expressive power, encompassing a wide range of perspectives on the armed conflict, from the brutality of battle between soldiers to the evacuations of the civilian population.

This acquisition forms part of a policy to expand the Spanish Civil War collections, whether through acquisitions or donations, as in the case of the works by the artist Helios Gómez, which were acquired in 2025. These new additions to the collection, both in terms of artworks and artists, enrich the war holdings with a view to the expansion of the Museum, where this subject will occupy a significant place.