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)

Trees

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 8, 2009

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Still life on a red table

Cecil Skotnes

Still life on a red table

Sale Date: October 8, 2009

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Cape agulhas (+ Village churchurch (sic); 2 works)

Cecil Skotnes

Cape agulhas (+ Village churchurch (sic); 2 works)

Sale Date: October 8, 2009

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Three figural compositions

Cecil Skotnes

Three figural compositions

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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Head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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A song of the miners (4 works)

Cecil Skotnes

A song of the miners (4 works)

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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The lake

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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The Lowveld

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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A landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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Grave yard

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: September 7, 2009

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Six totemic figures, 1966

Cecil Skotnes

Six totemic figures, 1966

Sale Date: October 20, 2009

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

Cecil Skotnes

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

Sale Date: October 20, 2009

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Mother and child, 1962

Cecil Skotnes

Mother and child, 1962

Sale Date: October 20, 2009

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Two heads

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: October 13, 2009

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Figures in an abstract landscape

Cecil Skotnes

Figures in an abstract landscape

Sale Date: October 14, 2009

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Figure composition

Cecil Skotnes

Figure composition

Sale Date: October 14, 2009

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Three standing figures

Cecil Skotnes

Three standing figures

Sale Date: August 4, 2009

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Masked head

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: August 4, 2009

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Abstract African figure

Cecil Skotnes

Abstract African figure

Sale Date: August 4, 2009

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Abstract

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: April 20, 2009

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Woltemade mounted (+ Drowning figures; pair), 1975

Cecil Skotnes

Woltemade mounted (+ Drowning figures; pair), 1975

Sale Date: April 20, 2009

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Abstract 6

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 10, 2009

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Two faces

Cecil Skotnes

Sale Date: March 10, 2009

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Mythical figures

Cecil Skotnes

Mythical figures

Sale Date: March 10, 2009

Auction Closed

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