Combat

Provenance

Strauss & Co, Cape Town, 13 April 2021, lot 602.

The Stan and Li Boiskin Art Collection.

Notes

This charged composition of two warriors facing off in traditional combat is a masterful display of Pemba’s artistic competency. Charged with physical and emotional intensity, the subject aptly conveys the skill, power and athleticism of these two adversaries. The composition compresses the two active participants between a backing wall of spear-carrying warriors with shields and a passive young boy seated in the foreground. It is difficult to know whether this scene is a ceremonial or mortal contest but, as it was painted in 1961, a time when South Africa became a republic, separating from the British Commonwealth and with Hendrik Verwoerd as Prime Minister, it is reasonable to consider that, against this political backdrop, Pemba chose to compose a painting which actively embodied strength, vitality and opposition.

Stan and Li Boiskin were well-known Cape Town cultural patrons whose influence extended far beyond collecting art. Active in community organisations and public life, they believed culture should be shared and socially meaningful rather than confined to private spaces. For them, art was a means to educate, to bring people together, and to foster deeper understanding between communities.

Alongside their involvement in the arts, the Boiskins were deeply committed to social causes centred on education, remembrance, and social cohesion. They supported Holocaust education initiatives, interfaith programmes, and projects aimed at reducing prejudice through historical awareness. Their philanthropy also extended to welfare and community support efforts, particularly those that preserve immigrant histories and assist vulnerable families.

Together, they embodied a form of patronage in which art, education, and social responsibility were closely intertwined. Preserving culture, in their view, meant not only caring for artworks but also encouraging dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect.

This carefully curated collection reflects a lifetime of shared dedication to the arts and stands as a tribute to Li Boiskin. Among her many achievements, she was the first person elected to two successive terms as Chairperson of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies. At the heart of her leadership was her character. Widely respected for her integrity and moral clarity, she was guided not by status or popularity but by a strong sense of justice and responsibility to others. Known for her kindness, generosity, and compassion, she embodied the values of faith, family, community, learning, and fairness. Her leadership was principled and people-centred, rooted in a deep commitment to others' well-being.

We hope you enjoy this special collection, which includes mini collections by leading South African artists such as Irma Stern, J H Pierneef, George Pemba and Maggie Laubser. Each played a defining role in shaping South African art in the first half of the twentieth century and contributed, in distinct ways, to the emergence of modern art in the country.