Notes

 Johannes Meintjes, Dagboek III, 18 August 1951, page 25:

 "Die rit vanaf die grens tot by Piggs Peak is een van die verruklikste wat ek nog ooit ondervind het.  Ek het die arme Reg byna uit die kar geslaan in my opgewondenheid - eerstens die Swazis in hul dekoratiewe lendedoeke en kleurvolle skouerklede met pragtige ontwerpe, die groen op groen van struike, die bome vol bloeisels, kafferbome belaai met hul trosse rooi blomme, die golwende berge met 'n kwaliteit van groen fluweel, die waterstrome en aalwyne - oral kleur en ontwerp om van te beswym.  Wit bosluisvoëls op rooi koeie, groenwit bloeiselbome, pers grond.  En boonop daardie gevoel van gelukkigheid, van warmte en vriendelikheid.  Elke Swazi het ons begroet met gehefte hand en 'n pragtige glimlag."

 "The drive from the border to Pigg's Peak is one of the the most magnificent I have ever experienced.  I almost knocked Reg out of the car with excitement - in the first place the Swazis in their decorative loin cloths and colourful shawls with beautiful designs, the green on green of the shrubbery, the trees covered in blossoms, coral trees heavily laden with their clusters of red blooms, the rolling mountains with the quality of green velvet, the streams and the aloes - everywhere you encounter colour and design to die for.  White cattle egrets on red cows, green-white blossoms, purple earth.  And on top of it all, a permeating atmosphere of happiness, warmth and friendliness.  Every Swazi greeted us with a raised hand and a beautiful smile."

 Johannes Meintjes, Dagboek III, 17 September 1951, page 30:

"...ek is reg vir baie nuwe werk, miskien 'n reeks Swazi-skilderye."

"...I am ready for lots of new works, maybe a series of Swazi paintings."

Inspired by the brief visit to Swaziland, Meintjes executed five paintings with Swazi themes, three in 1951 and two 1952.

Provenance

The Collection of Evan Robertson, to whom the artist dedicated his book Stormberg - Lost Opportunity: The Anglo Boer War in the North Eastern Cape Colony, 1899 - 1902.

Exhibited

Schweickerdt Art Gallery, Pretoria, 19 to 20 August 1952, catalogue number 7.

DS Vorster Art Gallery, Pretoria, 18 February to 1 March 1958, catalogue number 12.

South African Art Association Gallery, Cape Town, 4 to 15 March 1962, catalogue number 21.

Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, Prestige Memorial Exhibition, 7 June to 6 July 1990, catalogue number 21.

South African Arts Association of Arts, Pretoria, Prestige Memorial Exhibition (jointly with Alexis Preller), 6 to 23 August 1990.

Literature

Dagboek van Johannes Meintjes: Deel III: April 1951 - Junie 1955. (1975) Molteno: Bamboesberg-Uitgewers. Page 201, catalogue number JM 345.