Notes

Roots, a very rare line etching by Pierneef, has seldom appeared on the secondary market. Better known for his black and white linocuts of South African homesteads and indigenous trees, in the present lot Pierneef instead focused on an extensive, intricate root system. The close-up view is unusual for the artist, as he was more interested in the expansive vista of the landscape. The decorative patterns made by the exposed roots certainly attracted the artist, as he chose a similar subject for a linocut, Drakensburg Mountains and Tree Stumps.

Literature

FL Alexander. (1974) South African Graphic Art and its Techniques. Human & Rousseau Publishers. Illustrated on page 223.

Gerard De Kamper & Chris De Klerk. (2014) JH Pierneef in Print. Bela Bela: Dream Africa Productions and Publishing. Illustrated on page 130.