Notes

Houtbos, Transvaal, painted in the late 1920s, is one of three known studies for the famous Station Panel subject of the same name. These works demonstrate Pierneef’s refining process of simplification of subject, from naturalism to a more stylised representation. This version is the most detailed and realistic of the three.

The second, Woodbush, Transvaal, illustrated on page 134 of Stephan Welz’s Art at Auction in South Africa, shows a greater simplification of the composition, while the third, Houtbos, Transvaal, lot 217, sold in Johannesburg on 9 November 2015, showcases the greatest degree of stylistic distillation prior to commencing on the final work, which can currently be seen at the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch. This working process enabled the artist to distil the essence of the subject and complete the Station Panel commission in a relatively short period of time.

P G Nel made mention of the final Station Panel work, ‘When one looks at the panel Houtbos, Transvaal, one immediately notices how the main lines draw the eye
to the central point. The curves of the crowns of trees and the strong lines of the overhanging branch echo the arches of the architecture. Ropes of wild vines are gracefully draped to break the austerity and heighten the decorative effect of the panel.’¹

^1. P G Nel, JH Pierneef: His Life and Work, Johannesburg: Perskor Publishers, page 144.

The Estate of the late Mrs Nedra Jooste
21.04.1940 – 12.12.2022

An overriding interest of the late Mrs Nedra Jooste was travel, and together with her husband, Jannie Jooste, they travelled extensively both for business and pleasure. She was fascinated by beautiful places, architecture, art and collectables, and this permeated every aspect of her life. She also had a passion for creating beautiful homes and gardens, and entertaining friends and family.

Upon meeting the petite and stylish Nedra, one would not immediately have guessed that throughout her life she was heavily involved in her and her husband’s considerable business interests, predominantly transportation and farming.

She met her Namibian-born husband in Cape Town and after they were married they settled in Namibia, first in Windhoek and later in Grootfontein where they lived and worked for more than 20 years, and where their two sons were born.

Over the years they hankered after the Western Cape and at the end of 1982 they moved to the Somerset West wine farm Villa Cordoba nestling at the foot of the magnificent Helderberg mountains with breathtaking views of the Cape Peninsula. Not long after, in 1983 they acquired the adjoining farm Voet van Helderberg, later renamed Cordoba in keeping with the brand name of their wine.

After her husband passed away in 2008 she continued to run their business enterprises and to pursue her many interests.

Provenance

The Estate of Nedra Jooste.

Literature

Wilhelm van Rensburg (ed) (2015) A Space for Landscape: The Work of J H Pierneef, exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: Standard Bank, a similar example with the title Houtbos, Traansvaal is illustrated in colour on page 121 and 125.

Stephan Welz (1996) Art At Auction in South Africa: The Art Market Review 1969 to 1995, Johannesburg: Art Link, a similar example with the title Woodbush, Transvaal is illustrated in colour on page 134.