Strauss & co - 8 October 2009, Cape Town

140 275 Irma Stern S OUTH A FRICAN 1894-1966 Carla signed and dated 1944, inscribed with the title, the artist’s name and address on the stretcher oil on canvas 55 by 49,5cm R2 500 000 – 3 500 000 PROVENANCE Acquired from the artist’s studio by the current owner in 1950. EXHIBITED The XXV Biennale di Venezia, 1950 South African National Gallery, Cape Town, Pretoria Art Museum and Johannesburg Art Gallery, Memorial Exhibition Homage to Irma Stern, 1968, cat no 40, illustrated LITERATURE The XXV Biennale di Venezia catalogue, 1950, p 219, illustrated plate 63 A copy of this catalogue is included with this lot. This picture was sold to the South African National Gallery in 1950. However, on visiting the Gallery, Irma Stern was extremely affronted to find that it was not hanging in a prominent enough position. She cancelled the sale forthwith and instructed the then Director, John Paris, to remove it from the wall. The current owner was offered this picture on visiting Stern’s studio later that day.