Evening Sale

Live Virtual Auction, 16 September 2025

Evening Sale: Modern and Contemporary Art

Current Bid

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Lot 313
  • Vladimir Tretchikoff; Masai
  • Vladimir Tretchikoff; Masai
  • Vladimir Tretchikoff; Masai


Lot Estimate
ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000
VAT is charged on both hammer & premium for daggered lots
Current Bid
Starting at ZAR 700 000
Location
Cape Town
Delivery
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Condition Report
May include additional detailed images
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About this Item

South African 1913-2006
Masai

signed; inscribed with the artist's name and the title on a plaque adhered to the frame

oil on canvas
76 by 65cm excluding frame; 97 by 86,5 by 6cm including frame

Notes

Tretchikoff’s Masai immediately commands attention. The figure is monumental, almost statuesque, painted from a low vantage point that amplifies his presence. The subject – a Masai man from Kenya – is shown in profile, his head lifted with dignity and quiet authority. Every detail, from the headband and earrings to the layered necklaces and draped cloak, identifies him as both warrior and community leader: a symbol of resilience, pride, and cultural identity.

Colour carries much of the portrait’s impact. Deep blue-black tones of the skin, brushed with turquoise highlights, lend the figure an otherworldly radiance. Behind him, a textured red-pink ground vibrates with energy, propelling the sitter forward in sharp relief and intensifying the drama of the composition. The earthy hues of the drapery tether him visually to his environment, while the stark contrasts of light and the angular modelling of the planes emphasis the sculptural solidity of his form.

In the present lot, Tretchikoff’s signature qualities are on display: technical command, theatrical flair, and a fascination with the archetype. This is not simply a portrait but an idealised icon – a distillation of strength, nobility, and timeless presence. Like his other celebrated subjects drawn from Africa and Asia, the sitter embodies both individuality and universality. He is at once a specific person and a romanticised symbol, accessible to a wide audience yet imbued with grandeur.

The present lot is a striking demonstration of Tretchikoff’s ability to transform portraiture into spectacle. At once intimate and monumental, it captures the imagination and offers a vivid glimpse into mid-20th century South African fascination with identity, culture, and the exotic.

Andrew Lamprecht, Curator of Historical Paintings and Sculpture at the Iziko South African National Gallery.

View all Vladimir Tretchikoff lots for sale in this auction