The Life and Art of Pieter Wenning
Born in The Hague, Netherlands, Pieter Wenning was a painter and etcher who became a pioneer in South Africa. After working in Amsterdam, he moved to South Africa in 1905, arriving in Cape Town before traveling to Pretoria. In Pretoria, he lived in a cottage in Rietfontein, where he began experimenting with oils and imported a second-hand etching press. He was a founding member of a society called The Individualists, serving as its secretary. His career took him to Johannesburg and later to the Cape, where he lived and worked in Newlands. He was known for his ability to paint en plein air, capturing landscapes and the Malay Quarter. Despite facing health challenges, including malaria and tuberculosis, he continued to produce works that were later included in major collections such as the South African National Gallery and the Pretoria Art Museum.
Artistic Style and Legacy
Wenning is recognized as the progenitor of a style referred to as Cape Impressionism. He excelled at capturing the quiescent landscape and nature at rest. While his method involved completing works en plein air with his subject before him, his process also involved a large number of studies, sketches, and unfinished drawings. His work often focused on the following:
Though he faced financial difficulties and his portraiture was generally considered failures, his works gained significant prestige in the art market. His paintings have been featured in various major collections, including the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the Durban Art Gallery.
