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)

MURALS - 1820 SETTLERS' NATIONAL MONUMENT,...

Cecil Skotnes

MURALS - 1820 SETTLERS' NATIONAL MONUMENT,...

Sale Date: October 20, 2015

Auction Closed

A pair of panelled doors, 1998

Cecil Skotnes

A pair of panelled doors, 1998

Sale Date: October 12, 2015

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Reclining Cat

Cecil Skotnes

Reclining Cat

Sale Date: October 12, 2015

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Abstract composition, double sided

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract composition, double sided

Sale Date: September 12, 2015

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Abstract head

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract head

Sale Date: September 9, 2015

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Totem, 1982

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 9, 2015

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Reclining nude

Cecil Skotnes

Reclining nude

Sale Date: September 9, 2015

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Red figure

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 9, 2015

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Carved Figural Totem

Cecil Skotnes

Carved Figural Totem

Sale Date: July 27, 2015

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The Assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43), 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The Assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43), 1973

Sale Date: July 27, 2015

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Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: August 4, 2015

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White monday disaster portfolio (portfolio..., 1975

Cecil Skotnes

White monday disaster portfolio (portfolio..., 1975

Sale Date: August 4, 2015

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Cat

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: June 20, 2015

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Pilgrimage to dias cross (set of 17)

Cecil Skotnes

Pilgrimage to dias cross (set of 17)

Sale Date: May 26, 2015

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Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: May 26, 2015

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Falling figure

Cecil Skotnes

Falling figure

Sale Date: May 26, 2015

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Abstract figure

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract figure

Sale Date: May 26, 2015

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Four Heads, triptych

Cecil Skotnes

Four Heads, triptych

Sale Date: June 1, 2015

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Images (10 works), 1969

Cecil Skotnes

Images (10 works), 1969

Sale Date: June 1, 2015

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The Assassination of Shaka (43 works), 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The Assassination of Shaka (43 works), 1973

Sale Date: June 1, 2015

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Stations of the Cross (14 prints), 1983

Cecil Skotnes

Stations of the Cross (14 prints), 1983

Sale Date: June 1, 2015

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Three framed ceramic lithographed tiles

Bette Cilliers-Barnard, Cecil Frans Skotnes and Dirk Meerkotter

Three framed ceramic lithographed tiles

Sale Date: May 9, 2015

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Rock Formation Gold and Black, 1962

Cecil Skotnes

Rock Formation Gold and Black, 1962

Sale Date: March 28, 2015

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Still Life with Bottles and a Vase

Cecil Skotnes

Still Life with Bottles and a Vase

Sale Date: March 16, 2015

Auction Closed

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