6th Mar, 2024 18:00
20th Century & Contemporary Art
8
Cecil Skotnes (South Africa 1926-2009)
The Assassination of Shaka
a portfolio of forty-three colour woodcuts by Cecil Skotnes with forty-three caption texts by Stephen Gray
Artwork date: 1973
Signature details: each print signed, dated, numbered 221/225 and inscribed with the sequence number in pencil in the margin; title page signed and dated by Cecil Skotnes and Stephen Gray
Edition: from an edition of 225 + 25 APs
Sold for R39,025
Estimated at R40,000 - R60,000
a portfolio of forty-three colour woodcuts by Cecil Skotnes with forty-three caption texts by Stephen Gray
Artwork date: 1973
Signature details: each print signed, dated, numbered 221/225 and inscribed with the sequence number in pencil in the margin; title page signed and dated by Cecil Skotnes and Stephen Gray
Edition: from an edition of 225 + 25 APs
(1)
sheet size: 50 x 33 cm each, within a beige linen-covered portfolio box
Provenance:
Private collection, Johannesburg.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
The Assassination of Shaka portfolio is made up of 43 colour woodcuts, each print paired with a passage from the epic poem about Shaka’s life (1797-1828) by poet Stephen Gray. Inspired by E. A. Ritter’s biography, Shaka Zulu: The Rise of the Zulu Empire originally written in 1955, Skotnes masterfully illustrated the Zulu leader with great power and sensitivity. “We did an enormous amount of research, and actually travelled the route from Shaka’s birthplace to his Great Kraal”[1], noted Skotnes who worked on the project for almost 15 months.
On 20 October 1973, the portfolio was exhibited at Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. All 225 copies of the portfolio sold out at the opening night of the exhibition, and a year later, McGraw-Hill published the portfolio as a standard book.
[1] Harmsen, F. (ed.). (1996). Cecil Skotnes. Cape Town: Published privately. p.33
COLLECTIONS:
The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably the Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; The South African Reserve Bank, Johannesburg; Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch; Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg; University of Cape Town; KWV Collection, Paarl; Anglo American Corporation, New York; Ann Bryant Art Gallery, East London; Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg; Javett Art Centre, Pretoria; Rembrandt Art Foundation, Stellenbosch; Royal Belgian Library, Brussels; Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Copenhagen; Sasol Art Collection, Johannesburg; Schlesinger Organisation, London; Stuyvesant Foundation, Amsterdam; Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg; Van Leer Collection, Amsterdam and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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Auction: 20th Century & Contemporary Art, 6th Mar, 2024
HIGHLIGHTS
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