Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (South African, 1886-1957)


Boland Farm signed and dated '-Pierneef.1921.' (lower right)oil on canvas 44.5 x 54.5cm (17 1/2 x 21 7/16in).
|ProvenanceAcquired at Stephan Welz & Co, Johannesburg, 31 October 1988, lot 231.By direct descent.This early landscape, dated 1921, depicts a Cape Dutch farmhouse in the midst of rolling wheat fields. A dramatic mountain range provides the backdrop. Pierneef's father was a master builder and contractor, and had nurtured a love of construction and working the soil in his son from an early age. The artist's fondness for farmhouses and homesteads is evident in his work. This scene is a pastoral idyll. The landscape exudes an atmosphere of tranquil contentment, partly achieved through the warm and earthy palette. The golden-brown hues of the fields are reflected in the highlights of the clouds, creating a sense of harmony and balance.The composition reinforces this impression. The painting is divided into two halves - the billowing clouds in the upper portion are roughly equal to the expanse of land that occupies the lower portion. The mountain range runs across the centre of the canvas, providing a clear horizon line.