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)

Shaka defeats Matiwane

Cecil Skotnes

Shaka defeats Matiwane

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Shaka kills the mamba

Cecil Skotnes

Shaka kills the mamba

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Totems

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Shaka Zulu series

Cecil Skotnes

Shaka Zulu series

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Two figures, 1979

Cecil Skotnes

Two figures, 1979

Sale Date: May 28, 2011

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African head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: May 31, 2011

Auction Closed

Four heads

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: May 31, 2011

Auction Closed

Totem sold with a certificate of authenticity

Cecil Skotnes

Totem sold with a certificate of authenticity

Sale Date: May 31, 2011

Auction Closed

White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13,..., 1975

Cecil Skotnes

White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13,..., 1975

Sale Date: May 31, 2011

Auction Closed

Shaka (+ Abstract forms; 2 works), 1973

Cecil Skotnes

Shaka (+ Abstract forms; 2 works), 1973

Sale Date: May 31, 2011

Auction Closed

The assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43), 1973

Cecil Skotnes

The assassination of Shaka (portfolio of 43), 1973

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Man's gold (portfolio of 28), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Man's gold (portfolio of 28), 1975

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Figural fragments in an abstract landscape, 1976

Cecil Skotnes

Figural fragments in an abstract landscape, 1976

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Conversation

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

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Dancing figures

Cecil Skotnes

Dancing figures

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

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A still life with fruit and vessels, 1994

Cecil Skotnes

A still life with fruit and vessels, 1994

Sale Date: May 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Red figure totem, 1967

Cecil Skotnes

Red figure totem, 1967

Sale Date: April 16, 2011

Auction Closed

The White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

The White Monday disaster (portfolio of 13), 1975

Sale Date: April 16, 2011

Auction Closed

The shattered mill, south of Bolonia, 1945

Cecil Skotnes

The shattered mill, south of Bolonia, 1945

Sale Date: April 19, 2011

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African motives (3 works), 1972

Cecil Skotnes

African motives (3 works), 1972

Sale Date: April 19, 2011

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Red figure, 1973

Cecil Skotnes

Red figure, 1973

Sale Date: March 12, 2011

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Dromedaris

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 12, 2011

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Two figures

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Two figures, 1979

Cecil Skotnes

Two figures, 1979

Sale Date: March 12, 2011

Auction Closed

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