south africa

 1 .South Africa art form began to emerge at the end of the 18th Century focusing on the landscape and the people forged not only by the quality of light, but also by the crucible of history. There has been an ancient art heritage in the sub-region which can still be viewed and enjoyed in the natural galleries that have survived in the various mountain ranges in the country. While this tradition has had its influence on various artists, it is the English and Dutch painting traditions that have had a greater impact on artistic style. New global ideas and new themes have always found their followers in local artists. Many of the styles overlap and represent a fusion of cultural movements and an acceptance of a divergence of material culture. But within these movements and trends, South African artists have provided art with South African subject matter and character. South African art has always taken on the unique flavor of the country, from the 4 000-year-old cave paintings of the San Bushmen which is the richest collection of rock art.
2 .San Bushman rock painting in the Drakensberg range of mountains.

The San Bushmen, Africa's oldest hunter-gatherers, lived in the massive Drakensberg range of mountains from 4 000 years ago. Over that time, they created a vast body of art on the walls of caves and rock shelters which is the largest and most concentrated group of rock paintings in sub-Saharan Africa. This painting represents the spiritual life of the San people and is outstanding both in quality and diversity of subject.
3 .During the early colonial era, white South African artists tended to concentrate on what they saw as a "new world". Artists of that time such as Thomas Baines travelled the country recording its flora, fauna, people and landscapes. At the end of the 19th century, painters at that time began to establish a locally rooted art.
4 .            SOUTH AFRICAN ART
 South Africa art form began to emerge at the end of the 18th Century focusing on the landscape and the people forged not only by the quality of light, but also by the crucible of history. There has been an ancient art heritage in the sub-region which can still be viewed and enjoyed in the natural galleries that have survived in the various mountain ranges in the country. While this tradition has had its influence on various artists, it is the English and Dutch painting traditions that have had a greater impact on artistic style. New global ideas and new themes have always found their followers in local artists. Many of the styles overlap and represent a fusion of cultural movements and an acceptance of a divergence of material culture. But within these movements and trends, South African artists have provided art with South African subject matter and character. South African art has always taken on the unique flavor of the country, from the 4 000-year-old cave paintings of the San Bushmen which is the richest collection of rock art.

San Bushman rock painting in the Drakensberg range of mountains.

The San Bushmen, Africa's oldest hunter-gatherers, lived in the massive Drakensberg range of mountains from 4 000 years ago. Over that time, they created a vast body of art on the walls of caves and rock shelters which is the largest and most concentrated group of rock paintings in sub-Saharan Africa. This painting represents the spiritual life of the San people and is outstanding both in quality and diversity of subject.
Colonial era
During the early colonial era, white South African artists tended to concentrate on what they saw as a "new world". Artists of that time such as Thomas Baines travelled the country recording its flora, fauna, people and landscapes. At the end of the 19th century, painters at that time began to establish a locally rooted art.

'Elephants Charging over Quartos Country' by Thomas Baines (1820-1875)