What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss
Timed Online Auction, 12 - 30 June 2025
What the Fook? The Life and Work of Walter Battiss
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About this Item
signed with the artist's initials and dated 1971 in the image; signed and numbered First Proof in pencil in the margin; inscribed with the artist's name and the title in Afrikaans on a Pretoria Art Museum label adhered to the reverse; inscribed with a dedication on the reverse signed by the artist and dated 22/10/71
Notes
The present lot features Rain Battiss, formerly Belinda Battiss, pregnant with the artist's grandchild, Veronica, who was born on 19 June 1971. The composition and theme of the print is reminiscent of Pablo Picasso's work Reclining Nude (1964), highlighting the influence the artist had on Battiss since their first meeting in 1949.
A linocut printed from this block was published in 1981 to celebrate the artist's 75th birthday.
1Warren Siebrits (ed) (2016) Walter Battiss: "I Invented Myself", exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: The Ampersand Foundation, page 106.
Literature
Warren Siebrits (ed) (2016) Walter Battiss: "I Invented Myself", exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: The Ampersand Foundation, another impression from the edition illustrated on page 107, cat. no. 1971.03 S0.
Provenance
The Collection of Professor Murray Schoonraad.
