Notes

Gerard Sekoto’s colourful and animated Washday, Sophiatown – recorded as having been painted in 1942 – is a lively and empathetic representation of the lives of those he observed and lived amongst. He portrays his subjects with dignity and humanity, despite their extreme adversity. ‘His insight of his fellow human beings within their social environment is profound. His paintings are subtle commentary on the social, political and economic circumstance.’¹

Washday, Sophiatown is dominated on the right-hand side of the picture plane by a large somewhat stark well that is straddled by a tall wooden triangular support required for the lowering and hoisting a water bucket. To the left, another more loosely formulated triangular composition shows an energetic hive of human activity, the maternal figure carrying a baby on her back is vigorously going about her task while the young girl equally energetically strides with her load from the door of the house. They are surrounded by bright white laundry and other related paraphernalia.

Sekoto beautifully counters the many hues of dusty pinks and burnt orange with the bright blue sky, the red speckled blue length of fabric and head scarf, as well as the blue dress of the young girl. The picture is theatrically presented alongside the burnt orange fence, similarly shaded door mat and hat of the young man who emerges from the house.

After four years as a teacher near Pietersburg, now Polokwane, Sekoto took a first step towards expanding his horizons in 1939 when he moved to Johannesburg and found accommodation with cousins on Gerty Street, Sophiatown. Sokoto recalls, ‘To me it was already a great excitement to have arrived at this longed-for destination of Johannesburg’. Strolling through the suburb or looking through the window of his room he witnessed the rich, varied and colourful lives of the community.

1. Barbara Lindop (1988) Gerard Sekoto, Randburg: dictum, page 18.

Provenance

Bought by the current owner's parents from an exhibition at the Gainsborough Galleries or the South African Academy of Art in the 1940s.

Exhibited

Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, Song for Sekoto, retrospective exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the artist's birth, 26 April to 2 June 2013.

Literature

Barbara Lindop (1988) Gerard Sekoto, Randburg: dictum, illustrated in colour on page 57.

Barbara Lindop (1995) Gerard Sekoto: My Life and Work, Johannesburg: Viva Books, illustrated in colour on page 48. The date of the work is given as 1940.

N Chabani Manganyi (2004) Gerard Sekoto: I am an African, Johannesburg: Wits University Press, mentioned on page 37.

Gerard Sekoto Foundation (2013) Song for Sekoto: Gerard Sekoto 1913–2013, exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: The Gerard Sekoto Foundation, illustrated in colour on page 148.