1939 Gregoire Boonzaier "View of Cape Town" Oil Painting
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GUEST:
I'm American-born, but my parents were South African diplomats. And while I was growing up in South Africa, we would go to the docks. My father loved the docks. And that is Devil's Peak and Table Mountain. And he would take us on, like, a Saturday or a Sunday, and I was sure it was to get out of my mother and grandmother's hair. It's very sort of sentimental. I really love this painting. And so when my father and my mother of course had both passed away in '92, there were some paintings in the house, and I got to choose this one. I don't know, I just love that scene. It reminded me of my dad.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's a lovely example of the work of the South African impressionist painter Gregoire Boonzaier. The painting is oil on board.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And he was really a very, very well trained and important artist. He was born in 1909 and died...
GUEST:
Oh, really?
APPRAISER:
Oh yes, and died in 2005.
GUEST:
So it is recent.
APPRAISER:
Yes, yes.
GUEST:
Oh, my word.
APPRAISER:
He was in his 90s when he died. But what really fascinated me about him was his political side.
GUEST:
Oh, really? Okay.
APPRAISER:
Yes, yes. He was a very early member of the South African Communist Party.
GUEST:
You're kidding!
APPRAISER:
And was also a founding member of a group called The New Group of artists.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And what was interesting about them is that they were very socially conscious. And he founded this group in 1937.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And we see the painting is signed lower left and dated 1939, so it - it was around this time when this New Group evolved. And what was interesting about them was that they were very socially conscious, were very anti-apartheid…
GUEST:
Yes, okay.
APPRAISER:
…And believed that paintings should be in every atmosphere. Not just the wealthy should have paintings, but everyone should have paintings. So it was not only an art movement, but it was a political movement as well, so much to the point that in 1999, he received an award from Nelson Mandela.
GUEST:
Oh, how marvelous! Okay!
APPRAISER:
Yes, yes. So this is a lovely scene of Cape Town, as you described the location with the harbor. In terms of its value, he's sold paintings for over $90,000, over $100,000.
GUEST:
You're kidding!
APPRAISER:
No.
GUEST:
I had no... If you had told me he'd sold paintings for $20,000, I would have said okay.
APPRAISER:
No, no, they're very, very popular, very important artist. And given the size and subject matter and quality of the piece, while small and early, I would put it at between $10,000 to $15,000 at auction.
GUEST:
Marvelous. I am delighted. Oh, this is great. But I am so interested in that history. I just had no idea.
APPRAISER:
Oh, it's fascinating, isn't it?
GUEST:
I am delighted, and thanks.
APPRAISER:
Oh, good, good.
GUEST:
Oh, this is good.
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