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)

Four Figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 10, 2014

Auction Closed

The assassination of Shaka A (portfolio w/43 , 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The assassination of Shaka A (portfolio w/43 , 1973

Sale Date: October 25, 2014

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Untitled: Nine figures

Cecil Skotnes

Untitled: Nine figures

Sale Date: October 25, 2014

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Composition

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 28, 2014

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Desert massif, 1967

Cecil Skotnes

Desert massif, 1967

Sale Date: October 28, 2014

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 28, 2014

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Head, 1988

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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Judean Wall VII

Cecil Skotnes

Judean Wall VII

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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Ten Landscapes, 1976

Cecil Skotnes

Ten Landscapes, 1976

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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Abstract Figures

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract Figures

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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The White Monday Disaster (13 works), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

The White Monday Disaster (13 works), 1975

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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The Assassination of Shaka, 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The Assassination of Shaka, 1973

Sale Date: October 13, 2014

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Figure No.3

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 29, 2014

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Warrior Men

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 29, 2014

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 29, 2014

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White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Sale Date: September 9, 2014

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Head, 1969

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 9, 2014

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 1, 2014

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Three figures, 1982

Cecil Skotnes

Three figures, 1982

Sale Date: October 1, 2014

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Three woodcuts from The White Monday Disaster...

Cecil Skotnes

Three woodcuts from The White Monday Disaster...

Sale Date: July 30, 2014

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Beetle

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: July 30, 2014

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Death of Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Death of Shaka

Sale Date: July 30, 2014

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Totem: Red figure

Cecil Skotnes

Totem: Red figure

Sale Date: August 2, 2014

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Panelled Door with Geometric Motifs

Cecil Skotnes

Panelled Door with Geometric Motifs

Sale Date: June 30, 2014

Auction Closed

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