Fruit market dated and signed '62 / Malangatana' (lower left) oil on composition board 74.5 x 122cm (29 5/16 x 48 1/16in).
Sold for
£11,875
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Footnotes
PROVENANCE: Purchased directly from the artist by the the British Consul General in Maputo Thence by descent
Malangatana held his first solo exhibition in 1961, shortly before Fruit market was painted. The young Malangatana also had the sponsorship of the Portuguese architect Pancho Guedes, who offered him a space in the garage of his home in Lourenco Marques and would buy two paintings every month from him, offering a generous amount.
The expressions of the women in this early work are solemn and sad, but the scene is beautiful and peaceful and reflects the hope and idealism of the young artist. The cross around the neck of the woman in blue is of some significance to the artist, or was at the time.