Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef

Place: Pretoria

Born: 1886

Death: 1957

Biography:

Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, also known as Henk Pierneef, was a renowned South African landscape artist born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1886 and passed away in the same city in 1957. He is considered one of the best of the old South African masters, with a distinctive style that is widely recognized.

Early Life and Career

Pierneef's work was greatly influenced by the South African landscape, with most of his landscapes depicting the highveld. His style was to reduce and simplify the landscape to geometric structures, using flat planes, lines, and color to present the harmony and order in nature. This resulted in formalized, ordered, and often monumental views of the South African landscape, uninhabited and with dramatic light and color.

Artistic Style and Influences

Pierneef's artistic style was characterized by his use of pastel colors and geometric shapes to capture the essence of the South African landscape. His work can be seen worldwide in many private, corporate, and public collections, including the Africana Museum, Durban Art Gallery, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, Pierneef Museum, and the Pretoria Art Gallery.

Notable Works and Collections

Some of Pierneef's notable works include Union Buildings, a pastel painting created in 1912, which is currently housed at the University of Pretoria Museums. Another notable work is The Kraal, an oil on board painting created by Alexis Preller in 1948, which is currently housed at the Iziko South African National Gallery.

• Pierneef's work can be found in various collections, including the South African National Gallery and the Pretoria Art Museum.
• His paintings are characterized by their use of flat planes, lines, and color to present the harmony and order in nature.
• Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef is considered one of the best of the old South African masters, with a distinctive style that is widely recognized.

Pierneef's legacy can be seen in his contributions to the South African art scene, and his work continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike. For more information on Pierneef and other notable South African artists, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Jacobus-Hendrik-Pierneef or explore the various collections at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/Museum.