Cecil Skotnes

(South African, 1926–2009)

Cecil Skotnes was a white South African artist best known for his neo-Primitivist painted woodcut reliefs and prints. Throughout his oeuvre, Skotnes was noted for seamlessly merging elements of Western art with elements of traditional African culture, history, and folklore. He cited the works of both Sydney Kumalo and Paul Gauguin—who also had an interest in non-Western art—as sources of inspiration, noting that in his own work “being a woodcutter by virtue of the grain of wood and technique, you tend to get a sort of Cubist quality. And that of course is very tribal,” he explained. Born on June 1, 1926 in East London, South Africa, he grew up in Johannesburg and went on to study in Florence, Italy where he was profoundly inspired by the work of early Renaissance painters like Giotto and Masaccio. Upon returning to South Africa, Skotnes merged the lessons of Western European art with the culture and history of the country, including stories surrounding the figure of the pre-Colonial Zulu king Shaka. One of his major works, The assassination of Shaka (1973) consists of 43 separate woodcuts to tell the story in visual format. He dedicated much of his career to supporting the work of black South African artists, championing them financially and critically. Today, Skotnes’ work is in the collection of the South African National Gallery in Cape Town. He died on April 4, 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Cecil Skotnes Artworks

Cecil Skotnes (955 results)

U Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 5, 2018

Auction Closed

Totem

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 5, 2018

Auction Closed

Independence

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 5, 2018

Auction Closed

Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 21, 2018

Auction Closed

Ravine Wall

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 21, 2018

Auction Closed

A couple

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 21, 2018

Auction Closed

VOLCANIC CASTLE, 1962

Cecil Skotnes

VOLCANIC CASTLE, 1962

Sale Date: February 21, 2018

Auction Closed

WOODBLOCK II

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 22, 2017

Auction Closed

WOODBLOCK I

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 22, 2017

Auction Closed

Still Life with Bowls and Utensils, 1993

Cecil Skotnes

Still Life with Bowls and Utensils, 1993

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Totem

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Highveld Landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Highveld Landscape

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

The Assasination of Shaka by Mhlangane Dingane...

Cecil Skotnes

The Assasination of Shaka by Mhlangane Dingane...

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

In Memoriam Charles Eglington

Cecil Skotnes

In Memoriam Charles Eglington

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Homage to Albert Luthuli, original woodblock and

Cecil Skotnes

Homage to Albert Luthuli, original woodblock and

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Mining, original woodblock and woodcut

Cecil Skotnes

Mining, original woodblock and woodcut

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Malmesbury, original woodblock and woodcut

Cecil Skotnes

Malmesbury, original woodblock and woodcut

Sale Date: November 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Composition landscape, 1926–2009

Cecil Skotnes

Composition landscape, 1926–2009

Sale Date: November 12, 2017

Auction Closed

Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 12, 2017

Auction Closed

Abstract

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Communication

Cecil Skotnes

Communication

Sale Date: October 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Metaphysical Landscape, 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Metaphysical Landscape, 1975

Sale Date: October 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Head and Figure Landscape, from the Brandberg...

Cecil Skotnes

Head and Figure Landscape, from the Brandberg...

Sale Date: October 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Red figure

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 13, 2017

Auction Closed

Previous 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Next

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.