Title: Three figures
Medium: Charcoal and watercolour
Signed and dated 1954
Unframed: 63cm x 49cm
Framed: 77cm x 91cm
Irma Stern travelled extensively between South Africa and Europe from the 1950s until the end of her life in 1966. For these visits she made use of the Union Castle Line,a company with a fleet of 20 steam ships that connected Cape Town to destinations from London to Mozambique. They also had connections available to extend travels to Australia, China, and India (Theheritageportal 2019:1). The main stop before reaching Europe when traveling from Cape Town was the Canary Islands. These Islands known for their Mediterranean-like white houses on the mountain slopes next to the Atlantic Ocean have been home to a Muslim community from the 16th century (Taylor & Francis Online 2001:1).
In the artwork: Three figures, Muslim attire worn by the figures were clearly depicted. The viewer can see a man wearing a white turban and two women wearing head scarfs. In the background white houses are visible. We can assume that this was a sketch made while on route to Europe. In 1954 Stern exhibited her work for the third time at the Venice Biennale which necessitated a trip to Europe.
