The Power of Prints:

Lot 112: Robert Hodgins, These Sundays, triptych, 1997-98

Prints have long been one of the most rewarding and accessible ways to collect art. Holding a vital place in every artist’s oeuvre, printmaking opens up a world of technical experimentation and creative expression, allowing ideas to unfold across multiple impressions. Prints reveal an artist’s most deliberate thinking — the distilled ideas, techniques and collaborative processes that often shape their broader practice.

For collectors, prints offer exceptional value: access to acquire important and leading names, historically significant works, and rare editions. 

Lot 3: William Kentridge, The Lulu Plays, Act III Scene I & II

From centuries-old woodcuts to cutting-edge digital editions, printmaking remains a vital part of global art practice and South Africa holds a particularly rich and visible tradition led by celebrated masters and dynamic contemporary practitioners. From the pioneering community print workshops of the 1960s and 1970s, to the remarkable contemporary studios thriving today, prints have long democratised artistic expression and enabled generations of artists to experiment, innovate and build international careers.

Lot 11: Setlamorago Mashilo, Tree in corn field, 2020

Our current Summer’25 Collection: Spectrum celebrates this legacy with an outstanding selection of works from leading names to emerging voices, affirming just why prints remain one of the most compelling and collectible segments of the art market.

Top 10 South African Highlights

1.    William Kentrige

Lot 1: William Kentridge, Dada Picnic, 2019

A signature print from one of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, illustrating the powerful draughtsmanship and layered thinking that defines his practice.

2.    Robert Hodgins

Lot 69: Robert Hodgins, Business man, 1999

A vibrant and expressive monoprint with additional hand colouring, showcasing Hodgins’ signature bold linework and dynamic composition. This work captures the artist’s characteristic wit and energy, reflecting his mastery of the medium.

3.    Deborah Bell

Lot 52: Deborah Bell, Head with horns (from Diary I), 1998

A contemplative, archetypal figure rendered with Bell’s unmistakable gravitas, reinforcing her reputation as one of the country’s most accomplished printmakers.

4.    Peter Clarke

Lot 86: Peter Clarke, Strandfonteiners by Åsgårdstrand, 1978

A lyrical print by the beloved South African modernist, treasured for his poetic depictions of everyday life and profound humanism.

5.    Sam Nhlengethwa

Lot 12: Sam Nhlengethwa, Glimpses of the Fifties and Sixties, five, 2004

A superb example of his social realist imagery, capturing history, mood and memory through masterful collage and printmaking.

6.    Banele Khoza

LEFT: Lot 54: Banele Khoza, Oh oh, 2015

RIGHT: Lot 58: Banele Khoza, Bae-things, 2016

Tender, emotionally resonant works from a leading young contemporary artist whose prints offer intimate insights into themes of love, identity and vulnerability.

7.    Sanell Aggenbach

Lot 57: Sanell Aggenbach, Atlantis, 2019

A beautifully refined and conceptually layered print by Aggenbach, an artist celebrated for her quietly poetic explorations of memory, femininity and historical narrative.

8.    Dumisani Mabaso

Lot 61: Dumisani Mabaso, OH MAD PALA, 2011

A rare work by the late master printmaker whose contributions to South Africa’s print workshops were foundational; a piece of true historical significance.

9.    John Moore

Lot 104: John Moore, African Wealth Nguni Cow, 2015

A technically sophisticated and characterful print by Moore, demonstrating his mastery of atmosphere, detail and the graphic medium at large.

10.     Colbert Mashile

Lot 2: Colbert Mashile, Re-discover, 2012

A large-scale, visually striking print that reflects Mashile’s rich symbolic visual language.

International Highlights

Tracey Moffat

LEFT: Lot 88: Tracey Moffatt, Laudanum #3, 1998

RIGHT: Lot 89: Tracey Moffatt, Laudanum, 1989

Works by the acclaimed Australian artist whose cinematic, narrative-driven prints are collected globally and seldom appear on the local market.

Chopped Liver Press

Lot 5 – 9: Chopped Liver Press

A rare selection of prints from the renowned British collective Chopped Liver Press, known for their sharp wit, bold graphic language and politically charged imagery. These works encapsulate the group’s distinctive blend of humour and critique. 

Lot 91: Blessing Ngobeni, No Kings No War, 2019

Collecting prints is more than acquiring images on paper — it’s a way to engage deeply with an artist’s vision, technique, and creative journey. From historic masters to contemporary innovators, prints offer collectors access to remarkable works at every level, combining aesthetic impact with cultural and market value. 

Whether building a first collection or expanding an established one, the right print can become a cornerstone of any collecting journey and a window into the rich, evolving story of South African and international art.

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Summer '25 Collection: Spectrum

20 November - 4 December 2025

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