Review 2011

Alexis Preller “Whatever I am after is contained in an African shape”, wrote Alexis Preller in a letter dated 1948. This drive to capture the intrinsic qualities of Africa and to give life to its cultures is apparent in Primavera , painted in 1956. Like its famous antecedent by Sandro Botticelli, Primavera extols the joys of spring. But unlike the Primavera in the South African National Gallery’s Permanent Collection, here Preller uniquely brings together a European figure that appears to celebrate and pay homage to Africa and an African figure that offers, in return, branches symbolic of regeneration and of peace. Emma Bedford, Senior Paintings Specialist, Strauss & Co Primavera signed and dated ’56 oil on canvas 101,5 by 86,3cm Sold R 2 116 600, May 2011 A Still Life with Eggs signed and dated ’48 oil on canvas 51 by 61cm Sold R1 114 000, May 2011 Also exhibited as ‘The Eggs (Hommage à Bosch).’ Boys Bathing signed and dated ’36 oil on canvas 69,5 by 84,5cm Sold R1 058 300, September 2011 40