South AFrican Search for Identity
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South African art has come a long way since its initiation in the 19th century. Many artist have produced superb and greatly recognized pieces, incorporating the different styles and techniques both local and European. South African art is as diverse as the rainbow nation we live in. But has South Africa found an idiom all artists can relate to? Have we developed a style we can call true to South Africa?
Before analysing or understanding South African art, we need to realize that our art is mainly based on European trends and styles. But the one great difference is the 'time lag' we experience. This means that it would take almost 50 years for a European trend to 'reach our shores'. Where Impressionism was big in Europe, during the early 19th century, it was only seen in South African landscapes of the late 19th century, while Europe was already experiencing Post-Impressionism.
The second thing we need to understand, is that the first South African artists were born and trained overseas...