Omdat Pierneef, as kunstenaar, in Pretoria gebore is, is dit gepas dat sy werk die eerste keer dáár aan die publiek bekend gestel is. In 1908, op 14 Augustus, het hy veertien werke, waarskynlik hoofsaaklik sketse en etse, as deel van ’n groepuitstalling in die Tudorgebou aan die publiek getoon. Reeds by dié geleentheid, wat deur die Pretoria Savage Club en Pretoria Kunsvereniging gereël is, het Pierneef ’n prys vir een van sy werke ontvang. Onder die ander kunstenaars wat daar uitgestal het, was tydgenote en mentors van Pierneef, soos Anton van Wouw, Hugo Naudé en George Smithard. (Besigtig katalogus: Pierneef se voorletters verskyn verkeerdelik as J K, en die “[A]” langs sy naam staan vir ‘amateur’).

Op 3 Oktober 1913 het Pierneef sy eerste solo-uitstalling in die J H de Bussy-gebou, Pretoriusstraat, Pretoria geopen, met werke in olie, pastel en kryt. (Die uitstalling het vermoedelik ook hout- en linosneedrukke ingesluit omdat dit reeds in 1911 deel van ’n groepuitstalling van “The Individualists”) uitgemaak het. Drie hooftemas wat duidelik uit Pierneef se 50 werke by dié uitstalling blyk, is die wilgerboom, Ou Pretoria-huise en die Uniegebou. Die wilger was so opvallend dat ’n korrespondent van die Pretoria News die uitstalling as “The cult of the willow” beskryf het.

Pierneef het goeie resensies ontvang en besluit om die uitstalling tot November te verleng. Die volgende woorde van een besoeker aan die uitstalling getuig van die goeie ontvangs en kragtige impak van Pierneef se werk: “My whole feeling about the exhibition is summed up when I say that I left it feeling that I had been looking at works of a genius.”

Op 15 November 1915 het Pierneef met sy tweede solo-uitstalling na De Bussy teruggekeer, hierdie keer ’n uitbreiding op verskillende temas in verskeie mediums soos olie, etse, hout- en linosneë sowel as sketse.

As a Pretorian-born artist, it is fitting that Pierneef’s work was first shown to the public in this city. On 14 August 1908, Pierneef exhibited 14 works, presumably mainly sketches and etchings, in the Tudor Building, as part of a group exhibition. At this event, which was organised by the Pretoria Savage Club and Pretoria Art Society, Pierneef was also awarded a prize for one of his works. Among the other artists participating in the group exhibition were contemporaries and mentors of Pierneef, including Anton van Wouw, Hugo Naudé and George Smithard. (View catalogue: Pierneef’s initials are incorrectly shown as J K, and the “[A]” next to his name denotes ‘amateur’).

On 3 October 1913, Pierneef opened his first solo exhibition in the J H de Bussy building, Pretorius Street, Pretoria, displaying oils, pastels and crayon works. (Wood- and linocut prints were, in all likelihood, also on show, because these mediums formed part of the 1911 group exhibition “The Individualists”.) The three dominant themes emerging from Pierneef’s 50 works on show at this exhibition were the willow tree, Old Pretoria houses and the Union Buildings. The willow was so prominent that a correspondent of the Pretoria News described the exhibition as “The cult of the willow”. Pierneef received glowing reviews and decided to extend the exhibition until November. The following remark by one visitor to the exhibition attests to the good reception and profound impact of Pierneef’s work: “My whole feeling about the exhibition is summed up when I say that I left it feeling that I had been looking at works of a genius.”

On 15 November 1915, Pierneef returned to De Bussy with his second solo exhibition, this time elaborating on various themes in several media, such as oil, etching, wood- and linocut as well as drawings

Bronne / Sources

Exhibition catalogue. 14 – 15 August 1908. NWU, Ferdinand Postma Library, J H Pierneef Collection.
Transvaal Chronicle. Pretoria Artist, Talent on Exhibition. Monday, 6 October 1913.
Pretoria News. The Impressionist School — The Cult of the Willow. Friday, 3 October 1913.
Pretorius, E E. 1990. Biography of Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, in J H Pierneef: His life and his work. Nel, P G (eds). p43-44.

Versamelings / Collections

Vroeë werke en etse / Early works and etchings; Iziko South African National Gallery, Johannesburg Art Gallery, DITSONG cultural history collection
Ou Pretoria-sketse, pastel, linosneë en oliewerke / Old Pretoria sketches, pastels, linocuts and oils; Museum Africa, Johannesburg; Pretoria Art Museum