R110,000
William Joseph Kentridge (South African 1955 - ) ANOTHER CAT
signed and inscribed 'Trial Proof' in pencil and embossed with the Artist's Proof Studio chopmark in the margin
aquatint etching
sheet size: 67 by 86cm; 81,5 by 99,5cm including framing
While discussing his lifelong association with printmaking at a conference held in Cape Town in 2003, William Kentridge related a nostalgic account about a print of a cat from his childhood. This was a print gifted to him by renowned artist, Cecil Skotnes. Kentridge detailed how this print hung on his wall, and in many ways, the moustache-like whiskers and cat-like eyes looked to him like a self-portrait of Skotnes. This ignited a spark and interest in the way an animal or object could take on human qualities, and anthropomorphism is a theme seen throughout Kentridge’s extensive and prolific oeuvre. Cats, in particular, are an important and recurring motif in Kentridge’s work, and metal cats even stand guard at the artist’s front gate and above his studio door. Kentridge maintains that this recognisable and meaningful symbol is indebted to that gifted Skotnes cat.
Lot 528, titled Another Cat, is an energetic and dynamic work, where subtle postural nuances, such as the arch in the cat’s back, make the work come alive with a taught yet playful feline energy.
Berman states, “The origin of this powerful image is derived from an etching plate begun with Malcolm Christian at Caversham Press over 15 years ago and reminiscent of the famous “Scribble Cat” published by David Krut Studio in 2010. The Kentridge studio found the plate stored away on a shelf, with a single state proof. Interested in breathing it back to life, Kentridge suggested it be continued as a collaboration with APS [Artist Proof Studio]. In response to seeing the trial proof of two plates printed in two different densities of etching ink, Kentridge has added two more layers to each plate; one with energetic drypoint lines and the second with his painterly wash strokes characteristic of the more experimental use of coffee lift. The resulting image embodies both the creative energy of the artist and poised tension of a cat.” (Berman 2020).
- A.C
Berman, K. 2020. Notes on another cat, Creative Feel [O]:
https://creativefeel.co.za/2020/02/notes-on-another-cat/
Accessed 7 May 2022
Williamson, S. 2003. Artthrob [O]:
https://artthrob.co.za/03sept/diary.html
Accessed 7 May 2022
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