Items Similar to The Tennis Court - Mandela, South African President, Signed, Robben Island, sport
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
Nelson MandelaThe Tennis Court - Mandela, South African President, Signed, Robben Island, sport2003
2003
About the Item
Nelson Mandela, The Tennis Court, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw.
The transformation of the courtyard so the prisoners could exercise playing tennis led Nelson Mandela to mediate on the perversity of being able to play such a civilised sport in so brutal an environment.
The motivation reads:
“In 1977 forced manual labour was ended after we maintained a two-year go-slow strike. We asked to do something more useful with our days instead of the monotony of mining lime and stone from the quarries. This action, however, robbed us of the opportunity to exercise, and after much effort we convinced the warders to allow us to convert the courtyard into a tennis court.
Prior to this, the prisoners were marched round and round the courtyard for half an hour everyday. We used to walk around the courtyard quickly in single file under the watchful eye of the guards.
Our persistence paid off and we painted the cement courtyard surface to create a traditional tennis court layout. Strangely, Robben Island was the first opportunity for me to play tennis since university. I was by no means an expert, but the exercise was a welcome break from the walks to and from the quarry and round and round the yard.
Being able to exercise one’s mind and body through play was immensely freeing. Playing tennis and attending to my gardening became my two favourite hobbies on Robben Island. It was a strange sensation enjoying such civilised hobbies in such an uncivilised place. It caused me to reflect on the strange and perverse nature of apartheid, where they wrongly thought that one peoples’ freedom could only be enjoyed at the expense and oppression of another.”
An edition of 350 lithographs was launched on Robben Island in 2003.
- Creator:Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)
- Creation Year:2003
- Dimensions:Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Width: 20.08 in (51 cm)Depth: 1.58 in (4 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Knowle Lane, GB
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1986
1stDibs seller since 2019
14 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 5 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Knowle Lane, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- The Church - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed Art, Robben IslandBy Nelson MandelaLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighNelson Mandela, The Church, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw. In 2002, when creating the The Church print...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- The Courtyard - Nelson Mandela, South African, inspiration, Robben Island, hopeBy Nelson MandelaLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighNelson Mandela, The Courtyard, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his f...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Mandela's Walk - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed, Robben IslandBy Nelson MandelaLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighNelson Mandela, The Walk, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- The Harbour - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed Art, Robben IslandBy Nelson MandelaLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighNelson Mandela, The Harbour, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his fam...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- The Lighthouse - Mandela, Former South African President, Signed, Robben IslandBy Nelson MandelaLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighNelson Mandela, The Lighthouse, Signed Limited Edition Lithograph Many people are unaware that Nelson Mandela turned his hand to art in his 80's as a way of leaving a legacy for his family. He spent time with an art tutor and learnt to draw. In 2002, when creating the The Lighthouse print...Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Glengairn, Aberdeenshire - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Scotland, BritishLocated in Knowle Lane, CranleighGlengairn, Aberdeenshire, January by His Majesty King Charles III - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been ...Category
Early 2000s Academic Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
You May Also Like
- Spectre (an otherworldly landscape with trees and mountains under a dappled sky)By Nicola LopezLocated in New Orleans, LALopez created her haunting landscape in an edition of 95 at Tamarind Institute. It is a four color-lithograph on white Revere silk paper. Collaborating Printer: Valpuri Remling. "O...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Summer Sky, limited edition lithograph, landscape, desert, turquoise, orangeBy Dan NaminghaLocated in Santa Fe, NMSummer Sky, limited edition lithograph, landscape, desert, turquoise, orangeCategory
1980s Contemporary Landscape Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Jamboree, by Roman SustovBy Roman SustovLocated in Palm Springs, CASigned, titled and numbered in pencil, from the edition of 30. An imaginary musical instrument combining elements of a trumpet and French Horn. Using traditional stone lithography,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- "When the Moon and the Sky Talk About Flowers"By Ana Maria HernandoLocated in Lyons, COThe artist describes this project: “I paint and draw flowers, not only out of mesmerized wonder for their presence on earth, but also as a rebellion against the labels of “decorative”, “inconsequential” and “superficial” that have been equated historically to the art of women...Category
2010s Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Landscape - Original Litho Reotuché by Fredy Lapenna - 1990sBy Fredy LapennaLocated in Roma, ITLandscape is a retouché on paper, realized by the Belgian artist Fredy Lapenna. This original print, representing a natural country landscape with sweet hills, is numbered in Roman ...Category
1990s Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Ocean View Wind Patterns, Camden MaineBy Yvonne JacquetteLocated in Lyons, COColor lithograph, Edition 30. Jacquette also creates compelling images of the landscape and the sea from the air or atop hills or mountains. In this colorful print she depicts a view of the Maine...Category
2010s Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsLithograph