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William Kentridge
Self Portrait

1992

$45,500
£34,370.18
€39,722.13
CA$63,939.75
A$71,089.91
CHF 37,433.15
MX$862,534.49
NOK 473,921.98
SEK 443,001.55
DKK 296,429.58

About the Item

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. 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
  • Creator:
    William Kentridge (1955, South African)
  • Creation Year:
    1992
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    very good condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Toronto, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 05-251stDibs: LU215216554912

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Wustum Musem, Racine, WI GMI IX Award Winners, Art Center Gallery, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg 1993 Take Home a Nude benefit auction, NY Academy of Art Graduate School Of Figurative Art, NY 1993 American Prints: Last Half 20th Century, Jane Haslem Gallery, Washingtion, DC Outstanding American Prints, Anderson Arts Center, Kenosha,WI National Academy of Design 168th Annual Exhibition, NY David Becker: Etchings, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA Portraits, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA 1992 The Print Fair, 7th Regiment Armory, NY 1991 166th Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, NY Alma College Collection, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan Modes of Expression, Potsdam College, SUNY, Potsdam, NY 1990 With Nothing On, Prints and Drawings of the Nude, New Orleans Museum of Art, LA Prints by Printmakers, Staller Art Center, SUNY-Stonybrook, NY Publications/Reviews 2007 November 60 Years of North American Prints: 1947-2007, Boston U. 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Mark & Helene Connolly, River Forest, IL Jamie Kalikow, New York, NY Dianne & Jim Blanco, Chicago, IL Denise Roberge, Palm Desert, CA Tish & Philip Messinger, Creskill, NJ Brian Wesphal & Michael McVicker, Chicago, IL Ralph Privoznik, Lafayette, IN Candice Groot, Evanston, IL Shomaker/Ruud Collection, Chicago, IL Braden Berkey and Robert Bartlett, Chicago, IL Bill and Karyn Silverstein, Highland Park, IL Steve Weitz, Lovettsville, VA Mary Allice Wimmer, Madison, WI Ann & Robert Avery...
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