Footnotes

• PROVENANCE:
  Acquired directly from the artist by the current owner
  
  This touching study of an African mother and child is a rare early watercolour when Sekoto was painting in South Africa; a date of 1936-1940 has been suggested by Barbara Lindop.
  
  From 1934 to 1939, Sekoto was teaching at Khaiso School; he was also painting actively and developing his technical skills as a watercolourist:
  
  "I made quick sketches of illustrations during lessons which I continued to work on in my room after school hours. I'd take a walk sometimes to a small settlement nearby to stretch my legs, sometimes also to take a sip of the local beer, and then come back to work on my drawings and painting in water-colour which I had by then discovered, to my great delight. My door would be locked as I would not tolerate anyone intruding on me whilst at work...My painting would be done in the late hours of night by candlelight." (the artist, as quoted in Lindop 1988, p.17)
  
  The current owner was the proprietor of 'Le Rubens' bistro, Rue Mazarine, Paris. Gerard Sekoto was a regular at this establishment and befriended the owner, who then purchased a number of works over the following years.
  
  We are grateful to Barbara Lindop for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.
  
  BIBLIOGRAPHY:
  B. Lindop, Gerard Sekoto, (Randburg, 1988)

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Category: Fine Art / South African Art

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