Hennie Niemann Snr, Untitled (Fynbos Pickers), 2000
Oil on paper
42 x 38 cm (visible), 77 x 72 x 4 cm (framed)
Condition:
Good, spots of mould present on the surface of the work, with light foxing on the surrounding matboard and mould present on the interior of the glass panel.
-
Hennie Niemann Snr (South African, b. 1941) was born in Bloemfontein and developed a passion for art early in life. After nearly two decades as a teacher, he committed to painting full-time in 1983, relocating to Onrus in the Western Cape, where he was encouraged and mentored by Gregoire Boonzaier, a close friend and neighbour. While teaching at Tweespruit Agricultural School, he also formed a lasting friendship with Father Frans Claerhout. Both Boonzaier and Claerhout greatly influenced his artistic style and themes. Niemann is especially known for his expressive depictions of Harvesters and Fynbos Pickers.
We were driving past Onrus when we spotted his gallery. We went in on a whim and were attracted by the vibrancy of his paintings. Wanting something in our Singapore home to remind us of my husband's South African roots, we decided to buy this painting. We like the composition and the feeling of rural Cape life and landscape conveyed by the depiction of ladies gathering fynbos.
(Photographed in July 2025)