31st Oct, 2016 20:00

Historic, Modern & Contemporary Art

 
Lot 34
 
Lot 34 - William Kentridge (South Africa 1955-)

34

William Kentridge (South Africa 1955-)
Untitled (from Deluge series)

charcoal and pastel

Artwork date: 1990
Signature details: signed and dated

Sold for R1,818,880
Estimated at R1,000,000 - R1,600,000


Condition Report

Good. To be examined out of the frame.

Please note, we are not qualified conservators and these reports give our opinion as to the general condition of the works. We advise that bidders view the lots in person to satisfy themselves with the condition of prospective purchases.

 

charcoal and pastel

Artwork date: 1990
Signature details: signed and dated

(1)

119 x 83 cm

Acquired from the artist.

Notes:

Kentridge and his work need no introduction, but this example of a large drawing in his characteristic charcoal and pastel on paper is unusual in many respects.

Produced at a time in his career when many of his most identifiable stylistic and thematic concerns were coalescing into what would become the justly famous 9 Drawings for Projection, the work could be mistaken for one of the palimpsestuous studies comprising the animated films.

The trope of the fish, and the biblical undertones of the deluge, mark the work as a fairly rare tender and lyrical moment – if, as always, tinged with melancholy and loss – in Kentridge’s oeuvre at this time. With storm clouds on the SA political horizon growing dark and threatening when the drawing was made, the fish metaphor (often deployed by Kentridge as shorthand for a lyrical and quicksilver quality of tenderness), and the implied deluge which has cleared the air and the earth, would have been a welcome relief. The use of a wider pastel colour palette than is often the case, as well as its subtle application, is also unusual, and can be contrasted with the swathes of blue or red in the early animated films roughly contemporaneous with the drawing.

The extent to which the work stands alone, despite its affinities to Kentridge’s then-contemporary work, and while bearing the characteristic hallmarks of the ‘drawing under erasure’ of the early films, marks it out as an interesting and eminently collectable work.

James Sey

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Auction: Historic, Modern & Contemporary Art, 31st Oct, 2016

The line-up for our inaugural sale included an extraordinary selection of art. Works ranged from JH Pierneef’s breathtaking Karoo near Hofmeyer, painted in 1930, to Dan Halter’s 2006, ultraviolet light, Pefection. 

Sculptures varied from Edoardo Villa’s acknowledgment of French artist, Aristide Maillol to Wim Botha’s heads that draw on classical and contemporary sources and Ed Young’s cheeky nude self-portrait. Also included were impressive photographs by award-winners, David Goldblatt and Pieter Hugo.

The auction set an impressive standard, with an outstanding sell-through rate of over 75% across 121 lots. The top lot of the sale was Alexis Preller’s exceptional Profile Figures (Mirrored Image), selling for over  R7-million. Record sales were achieved for Villa, Goldblatt, and Hugo, amongst others.

Viewing

Friday 28 October 2016 | 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday 28 October 2016 | 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 28 October 2016 | 10 am – 4 pm

 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE:


 

Logistics

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Small (≤60x90x10 cm): R480

Medium (≤90x120x15 cm): R960

Large (≤120x150x20 cm): R1,440

Over-size: Special quote

 

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Collection/delivery 20km>R800≤50km

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For buyers from outside South Africa, we will keep the artworks you have purchased in storage during the year and then ship all the works you have acquired during the year together, so the shipping costs are reduced. At the end of the annual period, we will source various quotes to get you the best price, and ship all your artworks to your desired address at once.

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