Strauss & co - 11 November 2013, Johannesburg

222 Image reproduced courtesy of The Artist’s Press notes William Kentridge is one of the most dynamic and fearless printmakers in South Africa. While favouring intaglio print methods, he is constantly experimenting with the medium. Aided by some of the best master printers in South Africa it is not unheard of for Kentridge to ‘roll a bicycle’across a plate in order to score the exact marks he desires in the final image. Learning the Flute (Reverse) , is worked white on black and has the feel of a photographic negative. This work is intended to be mounted for display using push-pins. 1 There is a 10 mm overlap on the bottom and right-hand edge of each panel. Each panel is numbered, beginning with 1 in the top left hand corner, and finishing with 110 in the bottom right hand corner. There are 10 rows across and 11 rows down. The image itself is crammed with ideas generated from Kentridge’s involvement and preliminary work that he did for the opera, The Magic Flute. 2 The final image is in a sense a pinboard of ideas and themes all of which are repeated throughout the set designs. 1. Please note that the present lot has never been hung in this fashion and has no markings from push-pins. 2. The Magic Flute premiered at the Théâtre Royal de la Maine in Brussels, April 2005. 277 William Joseph KENTRIDGE south african 1955 – Learning the Flute (Reverse) 2004 colophon and page 110 signed and numbered pp in pencil photolithographs Arches paper; a portfolio of 110 sheets, housed in the original linen portfolio box sheet size: 26,5 by 36,5 cm each R300 000–500 000 literature Hecker, Judith. (2010) William Kentridge: Trace , New York: The Museum of Modern Art. Where Learning the Flute is illustrated in colour, figure 22. Law-Viljoen, Bronwyn (ed.) (2007) William Kentridge: Flute , Johannesburg: David Krut Publishing. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 131. Rosenthal, Mark (ed.) (2009) William Kentridge: Five Themes . United States of America: Yale University Press. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 198, figure 40. Stewart, Susan and Krut, David (2006) William Kentridge Prints , Johannesburg: David Krut Publishing. Another print from the edition illustrated in colour on page 143.