The Art of Miss Irma Stern: Ugliness as a Cult
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to present the life and work of a well-known and celebrated South African painter of German-Jewish origin – Irma Stern (1894-1966). The artist was one of the first painters from South Africa whose works fitted well into the expressionist trend. Irma Stern’s artistic development was influenced by numerous trips to Europe and her studies at German art schools and academies. Her African roots were another important source of inspiration for her. Stern, who travelled all over Africa (including South Africa, Zanzibar and Congo) created numerous portraits of its indigenous peoples surrounded by wild nature. In her works, she most often presented an idyllic vision of the African continent, but one whirling with life and dynamism, thus reflecting her personal views of Africa as a real ‘paradise.’
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