Pierneef en die Vrystaat / Pierneef and the Free State

JH Pierneef (1886-1957)

Op die pad tussen Clarens en Golden Gate (OVS)/ On the road between Clarens and Golden Gate (OFS), 1934. Olieverf op skilderdoek/ Oil on canvas (42 x 56 cm). Versameling / Collection: La Motte Museum, Franschhoek

Plaas in Vrystaat Brandfort

Linosnee / Linocut. 13 x 20.6 cm. La Motte Hoofhuis / Manor House. Versameling / Collection: La Motte Wynlandgoed / Wine Estate.

Die Sfinks Fouriesburg

Linosnee / Linocut. 10.3 x 13 cm. Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant. Versameling / Collection: La Motte Wynlandgoed / Wine Estate.

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Pierneef het die toenmalige Oranje-Vrystaat die eerste keer in 1917 besoek. Hy het ‘n lesing oor Kuns in Suid-Afrika aan die lede van Onze Taal aangebied. Een van die gehoorlede was Reenen J van Reenen, wat Pierneef se bewondering vir en belangstelling in San-rotskuns gedeel het.

Pierneef het al sy rotskunskomposisies op vorige reisigers se tekeninge gegrond. Hy het later ook Van Reenen se tekeninge gebruik, aangesien Van Reenen kort na Pierneef se lesing self ‘n natrektekenaar geword het. Dit was as gevolg van hul gedeelde belangstelling en vriendskap wat in 1917 ontluik het dat Van Reenen in die posisie was om Pierneef in 1920 vir die versiering van die nuwe skoolsaal van die Hoërskool Ficksburg aan te beveel. In 1922 het Pierneef amptelik sy eerste publieke opdrag van agt friespanele met San-rotskuns as tema in Ficksburg voltooi.

Dit was ook in 1917 dat Pierneef die omslag vir die herdruk van Totius se eerste digbundel By die Monument ontwerp het. In die ontwerp word die Nasionale Vrouemonument in Bloemfontein, met die beeldhouwerke van Anton van Wouw versier, uitgebeeld.

Pierneef het sy eerste uitstalling in die Oranje-Vrystaat gedurende Oktober 1919 gehou. Hy het 88 kunswerke in verskeie media vertoon — olieverf, waterverf, etse, linosneë en sketse — met Afrika-motiewe wat hy met illustrasies en ontwerpe vir boekomslae geïnkorporeer het. Dit was die enigste keer dat Pierneef ‘n lisensie moes bekom om in die museum te kon uitstal. Die provinsiale administrateurs het gemeen die uitstalling was van vermaaklikheidswaarde. Pierneef het in die jare 1929, 1936, 1951 en 1952 met solo- en groepuitstallings na Bloemfontein teruggekeer.

Wat die lys van onderwerpe wat Pierneef in sy loopbaan geskilder het betref, is die reise en verkenningstogte deur die Oranje-Vrystaat van minder belang. Dié provinsie is slegs prominent in olieverfskilderye en linosneë van die Fouriesburg- en Sfinksberg-omgewing en die Golden Gate-pas. Pierneef het in 1937 die heel eerste keer San-rotskuns op die plaas Ebenhaezer by Fouriesburg besigtig.

During 1917, Pierneef visited the then Orange Free State for the first time, when he presented a lecture on Art in South Africa to the members of Onze Taal. Present in the audience was Reenen J van Reenen, who shared Pierneef’s admiration and interest in respect of San rock art.  

Pierneef based all his rock art compositions on drawings by previous travellers. Later, he also used Van Reenen’s drawings, seeing that, shortly after Pierneef’s lecture, Van Reenen became a tracer himself. Prompted by their shared interest and their friendship that developed during 1917, Van Reenen was in the position to recommend Pierneef for the decoration of the new hall of the Ficksburg High School in 1920. During 1922, Pierneef officially completed his first public commission of eight frieze panels with San rock art as a theme, in Ficksburg.

Also during 1917, Pierneef designed the cover for the reprint of the first volume of poetry by Totius, By die Monument. In this design the National Women’s Monument in Bloemfontein, with sculptures by Anton van Wouw, is featured.

Pierneef held his first exhibition in the Orange Free State in October 1919. He exhibited 88 artworks in various mediums — oil paintings, water-colours, etchings, linocuts and sketches — with African motifs that he incorporated with illustrations and designs for book covers. This was the only occasion where Pierneef had to obtain a licence for exhibiting in the museum. The provincial administrators were of the opinion that the exhibition had entertainment value. Pierneef returned to Bloemfontein with group exhibitions in 1929, 1936, 1951 and 1952.

As far as the list of subjects that Pierneef painted during his career is concerned, his travels and exploration journeys through the Orange Freet State were of minor importance. The province only features prominently in oil-paintings and linocuts of the Fouriesburg and Sfinksberg areas and the Golden Gate pass. Pierneef visited San rock art sites for the first time in 1937, on the farm Ebenhaezer near Fouriesburg.