WILLIAM KENTRIDGE “SELF PORTRAIT” MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 1992
William Kentridge (b. 1955) is an internationally acclaimed South African artist renowned for his dynamic prints, drawings, large-scale installations, and animated films. Through his practice, he balances universal experiences with the complexity of South African political history and society.
Born in Johannesburg to two prominent lawyers active in anti-apartheid efforts, Kentridge’s proximity to the dissolution of apartheid gave him a unique social sensitivity. His upbringing would shape the socio-political lens that informed his work as an artist. This work on paper was created in 1992, during negotiations to end South African Apartheid.
This sombre, richly-layered work on paper is a self portrait. There is a tactile immediacy to the charcoal impressions in this figure--a raw, immediate translation of the Kentridge's ideas and explorations. The subject's stare is unyielding, saying much in his silence. Kentridge offers himself as a mirror; He challenges viewers to confront the contradictions of history and the various injustices surrounding the apartheid-era, it serves as an acknowledgment of personal and collective responsibility.
Requiring commitment and careful consideration, Kentridge's portraits offer layered meanings to dedicated viewers, permeating in their minds long after they've disengaged from active looking.
Kentridge is somewhat of a polymath. Having pursued formal education across politics, fine art, miming, and theater, it comes as no surprise that his work cannot be contained to the bounds of a single medium. Charcoal and ink are often his first tools of creation. The density, darkness, and texture of the medium is instantly recognizable throughout his oeuvre. Each medium acts as its own language, offering distinct possibilities and constraints that shape his process.
William Kentridge's works are held in the collections of the Tate, the Pompidou, and the MoMA, among many other prestigious institutions. He was more recently the subject of a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy in London in 2022.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
Untitled (Self-Portrait)
South Africa, 1992
Signed and dated in charcoal, lower right
Mixed media on paper
22”H 22”W (work)
29.75"H 30.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
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WILLIAM KENTRIDGE “SELF PORTRAIT” MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 1992
William Kentridge (b. 1955) is an internationally acclaimed South African artist renowned for his dynamic prints, drawings, large-scale installations, and animated films. Through his practice, he balances universal experiences with the complexity of South African political history and society.
Born in Johannesburg to two prominent lawyers active in anti-apartheid efforts, Kentridge’s proximity to the dissolution of apartheid gave him a unique social sensitivity. His upbringing would shape the socio-political lens that informed his work as an artist. This work on paper was created in 1992, during negotiations to end South African Apartheid.
This sombre, richly-layered work on paper is a self portrait. There is a tactile immediacy to the charcoal impressions in this figure--a raw, immediate translation of the Kentridge's ideas and explorations. The subject's stare is unyielding, saying much in his silence. Kentridge offers himself as a mirror; He challenges viewers to confront the contradictions of history and the various injustices surrounding the apartheid-era, it serves as an acknowledgment of personal and collective responsibility.
Requiring commitment and careful consideration, Kentridge's portraits offer layered meanings to dedicated viewers, permeating in their minds long after they've disengaged from active looking.
Kentridge is somewhat of a polymath. Having pursued formal education across politics, fine art, miming, and theater, it comes as no surprise that his work cannot be contained to the bounds of a single medium. Charcoal and ink are often his first tools of creation. The density, darkness, and texture of the medium is instantly recognizable throughout his oeuvre. Each medium acts as its own language, offering distinct possibilities and constraints that shape his process.
William Kentridge's works are held in the collections of the Tate, the Pompidou, and the MoMA, among many other prestigious institutions. He was more recently the subject of a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy in London in 2022.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
Untitled (Self-Portrait)
South Africa, 1992
Signed and dated in charcoal, lower right
Mixed media on paper
22”H 22”W (work)
29.75"H 30.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
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William Kentridge (b. 1955) is an internationally acclaimed South African artist renowned for his dynamic prints, drawings, large-scale installations, and animated films. Through his practice, he balances universal experiences with the complexity of South African political history and society.
Born in Johannesburg to two prominent lawyers active in anti-apartheid efforts, Kentridge’s proximity to the dissolution of apartheid gave him a unique social sensitivity. His upbringing would shape the socio-political lens that informed his work as an artist. This work on paper was created in 1992, during negotiations to end South African Apartheid.
This sombre, richly-layered work on paper is a self portrait. There is a tactile immediacy to the charcoal impressions in this figure--a raw, immediate translation of the Kentridge's ideas and explorations. The subject's stare is unyielding, saying much in his silence. Kentridge offers himself as a mirror; He challenges viewers to confront the contradictions of history and the various injustices surrounding the apartheid-era, it serves as an acknowledgment of personal and collective responsibility.
Requiring commitment and careful consideration, Kentridge's portraits offer layered meanings to dedicated viewers, permeating in their minds long after they've disengaged from active looking.
Kentridge is somewhat of a polymath. Having pursued formal education across politics, fine art, miming, and theater, it comes as no surprise that his work cannot be contained to the bounds of a single medium. Charcoal and ink are often his first tools of creation. The density, darkness, and texture of the medium is instantly recognizable throughout his oeuvre. Each medium acts as its own language, offering distinct possibilities and constraints that shape his process.
William Kentridge's works are held in the collections of the Tate, the Pompidou, and the MoMA, among many other prestigious institutions. He was more recently the subject of a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy in London in 2022.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
Untitled (Self-Portrait)
South Africa, 1992
Signed and dated in charcoal, lower right
Mixed media on paper
22”H 22”W (work)
29.75"H 30.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
