Notes

William Kentridge is perhaps one of the most dynamic and fearless printmakers in South Africa. While favouring intaglio print methods, he is constantly experimenting with the medium. Aided by some of the best master printers in South Africa it is not unheard of for Kentridge to “roll a bicycle” across a plate in order to score the exact marks he desires in the final image.

Learning the Flute (Reverse), is worked white on black and has the feel of a photographic negative. This work is intended to be mounted for display using push-pins.¹ There is a 10mm overlap on the bottom and right-hand edge of each panel. Each panel is numbered, beginning with 1 in the top left hand corner, and finishing with 110 in the bottom right hand corner. There are 10 rows across and 11 rows down.

The image itself is crammed with ideas generated from Kentridge’s involvement and preliminary work that he did for the opera.² The final image is in a sense a pin board of ideas and themes all of which repeat throughout the set designs.

Kentridge’s complex imagery requires a commitment of time, an understanding of literature and history, and careful consideration in order to be fully appreciated, but he rewards the dedicated viewer with bountiful and layered meanings that continue to engage long after the eye has wandered elsewhere.

¹ Please note that the present lot has never been hung in this fashion and has no markings from push-pins.
² The Magic Flute premiered at the Théâtre Royal de la Maine in Brussels, April 2005

Literature

Hecker, Judith. (2010) William Kentridge: Trace, New York: The Museum of Modern Art. Where Learning the Flute is illustrated in colour, figure 22.

Law-Viljoen, Bronwyn (ed.) (2007) William Kentridge: Flute, Johannesburg: David Krut Publishing. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 131.

Rosenthal, Mark (ed.) (2009) William Kentridge: Five Themes. United States of America: Yale University Press. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 198, figure 40.

Stewart, Susan and Krut, David (2006) William Kentridge Prints, Johannesburg: David Krut Publishing. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 143.