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)

Door Panel, 1991

Cecil Skotnes and John Skotnes

Door Panel, 1991

Sale Date: March 16, 2015

Auction Closed

Carved Figural Totem, 1960

Cecil Skotnes

Carved Figural Totem, 1960

Sale Date: March 16, 2015

Auction Closed

Landscape, 1998

Cecil Skotnes

Landscape, 1998

Sale Date: March 16, 2015

Auction Closed

Figures in a Metaphysical Landscape No.1

Cecil Skotnes

Figures in a Metaphysical Landscape No.1

Sale Date: February 17, 2015

Auction Closed

Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: February 17, 2015

Auction Closed

Torso

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: February 14, 2015

Auction Closed

The Assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43..., 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The Assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43..., 1973

Sale Date: December 6, 2014

Auction Closed

Cecil Skotnes

Icon No 13, 1990

Sale Date: November 27, 2014

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The progression, 11 panels, 1971

Cecil Skotnes

The progression, 11 panels, 1971

Sale Date: November 25, 2014

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The assasination of Shaka a complete..., 1979

Cecil Skotnes

The assasination of Shaka a complete..., 1979

Sale Date: November 25, 2014

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Three masks

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 25, 2014

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Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 25, 2014

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The assasination of Shaka a complete..., 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The assasination of Shaka a complete..., 1973

Sale Date: November 25, 2014

Auction Closed

Fishing Folk #2, 1994

Cecil Skotnes

Fishing Folk #2, 1994

Sale Date: November 21, 2014

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The Gunner Makes Land

Cecil Skotnes

The Gunner Makes Land

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Feast, 1994

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

Auction Closed

Man's Gold (portfolio w/28 works), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Man's Gold (portfolio w/28 works), 1975

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

Auction Closed

Die Rooinek (artist's book w/ 15 works), 1981

Cecil Skotnes

Die Rooinek (artist's book w/ 15 works), 1981

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

Auction Closed

Landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Two Figures

After Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Conversation

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Landscape with Animals

Cecil Skotnes

Landscape with Animals

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Mother and Child

Cecil Skotnes

Mother and Child

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

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Totem, 1971

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

Auction Closed

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