Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art

Online-Only Auction, 14 - 25 April 2022

South African Art at the Venice Biennale
About the Session

This Venice Biennale-themed session in Strauss & Co's April online-only auction is timed to coincide with the launch of the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale in late April, and Strauss & Co’s sponsorship of the African Art in Venice Forum 2022 at Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal on 20 and 21 April. This session divulges the history of the Venice Biennale and South African art, as the art world converges on Venice. South Africa first became part of the Venice Biennale more than seventy years ago. The cordial relationship between Italy and South Africa over this period has nurtured international support for artists and art organisations in this country and continues to develop today.


Sold for

ZAR 37 520
Lot 41
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio
  • Cecil Skotnes; Man's Gold, portfolio


Lot Estimate
ZAR 30 000 - 50 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 37 520

About this Item

South African 1926-2009
Man's Gold, portfolio

colophon signed by the artist and Stephen Gray in pencil; each print signed, some dated 77 and 78, and numbered 'Artist Proof' XI/XV in pencil in the margin

colour woodcuts in leather solander box
each sheet size: 38 by 53,5cm; solander box: 41 by 56,5 by 5cm

Notes

A portfolio of 28 woodcuts by Cecil Skotnes, 6 poems, and text by Stephen Gray, based on ideas by Denis Godfrey, was published in Johannesburg from August 1975 to January 1979. These woodcuts were printed from original blocks in 2 to 5 colours on Zerkall Buetten paper by Egon Guenther, edition limited to 75 copies and 15 Artist’s Proofs numbered I to XV, in a leather-bound solander box covered in full Oasis goatskin, made by Peter Carstens.

Cecil Skotnes exhibited at the Venice Biennale, South African Pavilion in 1958, 1964, and 1968.

View all Cecil Skotnes lots for sale in this auction


Other lots that might interest you
Cecil Skotnes; Abstract Conversation
Cecil Skotnes
Abstract Conversation
ZAR 4 000 - 6 000
Cecil Skotnes; Abstract Landscape
Cecil Skotnes
Abstract Landscape
ZAR 4 000 - 6 000
Judith Mason; Monkey Shrine, portfolio, six
Judith Mason
Monkey Shrine, portfolio, six
ZAR 10 000 - 15 000
Roger Ballen; Untitled (Bitch)
Roger Ballen
Untitled (Bitch)
ZAR 7 000 - 10 000
Avant Car Guard; Walter Battiss = ker-razy white + dead x fat
Avant Car Guard
Walter Battiss = ker-razy white + dead x fat
ZAR 4 000 - 6 000
Betinho Mokwane; Voyage to Ubuntu XC
Betinho Mokwane
Voyage to Ubuntu XC
ZAR 2 000 - 3 000