Notes

Two Congolese Women is an unusually striking and bold portrayal of two women, seemingly a mother and daughter, one with a white top and the other in a white skirt draped of draped fabric over their rich brown bodies. The mother figure steadfastly commands at least half the surface of the painting and the young bare chested girl and stripped down tree, both set back, occupy the remaining space. In this work Van Essche renders the stylised figures, and the bare tree, with more fluid and curvaceous lines, lending an added sensuality, elegance and grace to this work. Typically Van Essche retains his distinctive theatrical setting that he has here accentuated with the richness of the background painted in large swathes of distinctive orange and midnight blue tones.

Van Essche arrived in South Africa in 1940 and soon became a prominent member of the art community. Van Essche's work differed greatly from earlier South African portrayals of African subjects as he filtered his subject matter through a modernist prism. He generously imparted his knowledge of modern and historical European painting, and his influence and authority on the South African art establishment was far-reaching. He significantly bolstered the modern movement in South Africa and had a remarkable influence on a younger generation of artists such as Stanley Pinker, Erik Laubscher and then emerging black artists including George Pemba. Van Essche was also at the forefront of efforts to get South African art recognised abroad.