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)

Abstract Form 1, Abstract Form 2 (2 works), 1981

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract Form 1, Abstract Form 2 (2 works), 1981

Sale Date: February 25, 2014

Auction Closed

Desert Massif, 1967

Cecil Skotnes

Desert Massif, 1967

Sale Date: February 25, 2014

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Beetle

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 15, 2013

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Resonance VI (Floating), 2001

Cecil Skotnes

Resonance VI (Floating), 2001

Sale Date: November 15, 2013

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White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Sale Date: November 19, 2013

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Stations of the cross (14 works), 1983

Cecil Skotnes

Stations of the cross (14 works), 1983

Sale Date: November 19, 2013

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Figural Composition, 1968

Cecil Skotnes

Figural Composition, 1968

Sale Date: November 11, 2013

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Reclining Cat

Cecil Skotnes

Reclining Cat

Sale Date: November 11, 2013

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Totem Pole

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 11, 2013

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Landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: November 11, 2013

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Still Life with Fruit in a Bowl, 1989

Cecil Skotnes

Still Life with Fruit in a Bowl, 1989

Sale Date: November 11, 2013

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Figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Night Figure II, 1987

Cecil Skotnes

Night Figure II, 1987

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Three Figures

Cecil Skotnes

Three Figures

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Metaphysical Landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Metaphysical Landscape

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Still Life with Fruit, Olives, Wine Bottle and...

Cecil Skotnes

Still Life with Fruit, Olives, Wine Bottle and...

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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The White Monday Disaster (portfolio of 13..., 1975

Cecil Skotnes

The White Monday Disaster (portfolio of 13..., 1975

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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

Cecil Skotnes

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

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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The Nameless One

Cecil Skotnes

The Nameless One

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Independence, 1974

Cecil Skotnes

Independence, 1974

Sale Date: October 21, 2013

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Shaka

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 1, 2013

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Trial (portfolio of 22)

Cecil Skotnes

Trial (portfolio of 22)

Sale Date: October 1, 2013

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Judean Wall

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 2, 2013

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