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)

Landscape no.1

Cecil Skotnes

Landscape no.1

Sale Date: October 17, 2012

Auction Closed

Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 17, 2012

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Three figures

Cecil Skotnes

Three figures

Sale Date: October 17, 2012

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Figural composition

Cecil Skotnes

Figural composition

Sale Date: October 17, 2012

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Pray for rain

Cecil Skotnes

Pray for rain

Sale Date: October 2, 2012

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The mask

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 2, 2012

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

Cecil Skotnes

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

Sale Date: October 2, 2012

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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 2, 2012

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Man's Gold (portfolio of 28 w/poems and text by...

Cecil Skotnes

Man's Gold (portfolio of 28 w/poems and text by...

Sale Date: August 7, 2012

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In Memoriam (portfolio of 10 w/poems by Charles...

Cecil Skotnes

In Memoriam (portfolio of 10 w/poems by Charles...

Sale Date: August 7, 2012

Auction Closed

Abstract composition, 2001

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract composition, 2001

Sale Date: August 7, 2012

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Agamemnon, 1970

Cecil Skotnes

Agamemnon, 1970

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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A Man and a Woman

Cecil Skotnes

A Man and a Woman

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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A Composition, 1981

Cecil Skotnes

A Composition, 1981

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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Resonance VI (Floating)

Cecil Skotnes

Resonance VI (Floating)

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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A Head, 2002

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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A Still Life with Vases and a Jug

Cecil Skotnes

A Still Life with Vases and a Jug

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Man's Gold (portfolio of 28 works w/text by..., 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Man's Gold (portfolio of 28 works w/text by..., 1975

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

Auction Closed

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

Cecil Skotnes

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

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

Auction Closed

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

Cecil Skotnes

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

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

Auction Closed

Four Figures, 1967

Cecil Skotnes

Four Figures, 1967

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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An Abstract Head

Cecil Skotnes

An Abstract Head

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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Altar to a Beached Whale II, 1981

Cecil Skotnes

Altar to a Beached Whale II, 1981

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

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Altar to a Beached Whale, 1981

Cecil Skotnes

Altar to a Beached Whale, 1981

Sale Date: June 11, 2012

Auction Closed

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