Irma Stern

ISBN 0620190140

The Rembrandt Van Rijn Art Foundation was created with the goal of creating appreciation for South African art as well as to introduce works by up-and-coming international artists. One of the most highly acclaimed pieces of art at the Rembrandt Van Rijn Art Gallery in Stellenbosch is “Panorama of Cape Town” dating back to 1808. This massive painting crosses 6 panels at a height of 3.8 meters. Other art works featured at the gallery come from the Cape Town triennial exhibitions.

Irma Stern, one of the main artists featured at the Rembrandt Van Rijn Art Gallery was born in South Africa back in 1894. In 1913 she went on to study art at Germany’s Weimar Academy, followed by the Levin-Funcke Studio in 1914 and then with Max Pechstein from 1917. Irma Stern presented her first exhibition in 1919 and was marked amongst the German Expressionist painters of the time. Stern held her first exhibition in Cape Town in the year 1922 introducing a very modern style to conservative South Africa. She came to live in South Africa in 1926. During her extensive travels of Africa, Stern documented the people and landscape in her artwork. She is known for using a variety of mediums such as oil pastel, pencil, charcoal, pen and felt pen. Her favorite was oil paint. Most remarkable about her artworks was the sensuous use of color as well as the idealization of her subjects. You are certain to be impressed when seeing her art in this seminal collectors item printed on behalf of the Rembrandt Van Rijn Art Foundation.