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)

Citadel

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 6, 2017

Auction Closed

Still Life with Coffee Pot and Fruit

Cecil Skotnes

Still Life with Coffee Pot and Fruit

Sale Date: March 6, 2017

Auction Closed

Ezekiel

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 22, 2017

Auction Closed

Heads

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 22, 2017

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 27, 2017

Auction Closed

Ravine Wall, 1999

Cecil Skotnes

Ravine Wall, 1999

Sale Date: March 27, 2017

Auction Closed

Figures and animals, 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Figures and animals, 1975

Sale Date: March 27, 2017

Auction Closed

Abstract composition, 1981

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract composition, 1981

Sale Date: March 27, 2017

Auction Closed

VOLCANIC CASTLE, 1962

Cecil Skotnes

VOLCANIC CASTLE, 1962

Sale Date: February 21, 2017

Auction Closed

THE WHITE MONDAY DISASTER (portfolio of 13), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

THE WHITE MONDAY DISASTER (portfolio of 13), 1975

Sale Date: February 21, 2017

Auction Closed

Figure Panels, four

Cecil Skotnes

Figure Panels, four

Sale Date: November 7, 2016

Auction Closed

Head, 1969

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 7, 2016

Auction Closed

Assasination of Shaka Zulu, 1973

Cecil Skotnes

Assasination of Shaka Zulu, 1973

Sale Date: October 22, 2016

Auction Closed

Folio No. 7, 1969

Cecil Skotnes

Folio No. 7, 1969

Sale Date: October 22, 2016

Auction Closed

The Rooinek and The Hunter, special..., 1979–1981

Cecil Skotnes

The Rooinek and The Hunter, special..., 1979–1981

Sale Date: October 31, 2016

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Man's Gold, 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Man's Gold, 1975

Sale Date: October 31, 2016

Auction Closed

Still life with vessels and fruit on a table

Cecil Skotnes

Still life with vessels and fruit on a table

Sale Date: October 31, 2016

Auction Closed

Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Three figures

Cecil Skotnes

Three figures

Sale Date: September 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Red figure

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 14, 2016

Auction Closed

Red Figure

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: July 30, 2016

Auction Closed

The White Monday Disaster (13 works), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

The White Monday Disaster (13 works), 1975

Sale Date: July 18, 2016

Auction Closed

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