Jan Rupert Art Centre

05/06/2026

Happy Friday! We hope you enjoy our last feature in the The Face behind the Portrait Series. Thank you for following along.

Born in Belgium, Maurice van Essche had always been involved in the arts, studying at the Brussels Academy of Fine Art, under James Ensor, and Henri Matisse in France.

Rumour has it that Van Essche met Henri Matisse in 1933 in Cagnes, while purchasing paint at an art supply shop. It is said that Van Essche purchased the last tube of ‘Lemon Yellow’ when Matisse entered the store and requested the same colour. Van Essche offered him the paint; however it was declined by Matisse and impressed with the kind gesture, he invited the artist to a studio visit. This started a friend and mentorship by the Fauvist artist.

In the 1939, Van Essche was awarded sponsorship for a painting expedition to Congo from the Belgian Government. However, with the outbreak of World War II in Europe, the artist and his family were exiled, and they ended up seeking a temporary base in Cape Town, South Africa. Instead, this temporary location became the artist’s home for the next 30 years. The artist remained drawn towards the exoticness of the Congo, investigating these themes.

Working in a stained-glass studio and a wallpaper manufacturing factory contributed to the development of his personal style, supporting colour and design in his compositions.

In 'Venetian Woman' and 'Fisherman', we see the artist’s recognisable stylised form used to emphasise forms with angular planes and rich colour at the forefront. Expressionistic influences can be seen, with his characteristic black outlines which create a symbolic image rather than naturalistic image.

He was a member of the New Group and lecturer at Michaelis School of Fine Art. Retiring in 1962, he returned to France and, due to health-related issues, he remained there until his death.

28/05/2026

There are still few spots left for Saturday's workshop! ✏️

Surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists part of the 'Faces of Modernism' exhibition currently on show at the Centre. Participants will move through a series of energising drawing exercises, led by visiting artist and facilitator Jessica Staple.

Cost: R150 per person OR R250 per couple. Tap below to book your spot.

Surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists part of the Faces of Modernism exhibition currently on show at the Centre. Participants will move through a series of energising drawing exercises, led by visiting artist and facilitator Jessica Staple.

28/05/2026

Stoep Tasters, make your mark! 🍷

Did you spot our Faces of Stoep Tasting banners last weekend? We'd love to see your creativity - share your creations in the comments below.

Joining Stoep Tasting this weekend? Keep an eye out for our banners around town, pick a face, and give it your own unique character. ✏️

22/05/2026

Happy Friday, it's time for The Face behind the Portrait Series!

Well-loved South African painter Maggie Laubser was born on Bloublommetjieskloof in Malmesbury, Western Cape. She spent her childhood on the farm, involved in related activities, and her interest in art grew predominantly during her teenage years into early adulthood. Her passion for art persisted when she studied under landscape artist, Edward Roworth.

Laubser’s art was influenced by her surroundings, often paintings scenes from the farm, animal life, and people she knew personally.

Upon meeting J.H.A. Balwé, an ex-consul from the Netherlands in Durban, who encouraged her to study art in Europe, he became her benefactor and convinced her parents to allow her to go abroad. She set out for Europe in 1913, and in England she attended the Slade School of Art in London for five years. Becoming acquainted with Max Pechstein in the 1920s and was exposed to German Expressionism, which influenced her work going forward.

She was considered, alongside Irma Stern, to have introduced Expressionism to South Africa. When the two artists met in 1921, Stern encouraged her to use lighter and brighter colours, marking a significant shift in her work.

With her return to South Africa in 1924, portraits and pastoral landscapes of the Swartland area became prominent subjects in her paintings. The 1940s was monumental in the artist’s career, when she became recognised as an artist and was the first woman to be awarded the South African Academy’s Medal of Honour for Painting.

Themes in her paintings were harmonious in that they paid tribute to her love of nature – feelings of the land, humanistic vision of humble lives, simple joys found in innocent animals – are seen throughout. Exaggerating shapes and expressive colours were prominent.

Some of the faces and people she encountered through her career, you can now view at the Jan Rupert Art Centre as part of the exhibition 'Faces of Modernism', and in the permanent exhibition of the Hester Rupert Art Museum.

20/05/2026

Stoep Tasters, don't miss out on a morning of fun and creativity! Join us at the Jan Rupert Art Centre on Saturday, 30 May.

Surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists part of the 'Faces of Modernism' exhibition currently on show at the Centre. Participants will move through a series of energising drawing exercises, led by visiting artist and facilitator Jessica Staple.

Cost: R150 per person OR R250 per couple. Tap below to book your spot.

Surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists part of the Faces of Modernism exhibition currently on show at the Centre. Participants will move through a series of energising drawing exercises, led by visiting artist and facilitator Jessica Staple.

15/05/2026

A very happy Friday! It's time for The Face behind the Portrait Series.

Austrian-born, South African artist, Johann Max Friedrich Welz, better known as Jean Welz, was one of the well-loved artists of Dr and Mrs Rupert.

The artist came from a family of picture framers and gilders. Welz studied both art and architecture, practicing as an architect for nearly half his life in Vienna. Welz along with his family, immigrated to South Africa in 1937. Tuberculosis forced Welz to resign from his profession as an architect, and while recovering he took up painting and drawing again.

He worked as the principal of the Hugo Naude Art Centre in Worcester, where he lived for 28 years. In 1941, he held his first exhibitions in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, and also became a member of the New Group. His early work saw many still lifes. From the mid-1940s he shifted towards more figurative works.

Texture and tonal values were achieved in his paintings by scraping and scumbling the media on the surface. A muted colour palette is also characteristic of his work; these often have heavier outlines. ‘Woman in a pensive mood’ on show in ‘Faces of Modernism’ at the Jan Rupert Art Centre is an accomplished example of Welz later work.

Welz became acquainted with Dr and Mrs Rupert when they met at a social function. In the early 1960s, Welz was approached to paint a commissioned portrait of Dr Rupert. It was only in 1965 that Welz took on this commission and conducted several life-drawing sessions with his subject. A series of charcoal sketches completed as studies is known, and one is on show in the Hester Rupert Art Museum.

Unfortunately, Welz’s tuberculosis recurred in 1968. The following year, the family moved to Cape Town, where he lived until his death in 1975.

08/05/2026

It's Friday, which means it's time for another feature in our The Face behind the Portrait Series!

Maud Sumner was born in Johannesburg in 1902. The artist’s life and artistic career was shaped by three important places, that of South Africa, London and Paris, throughout her life. She first studied English in London, where she lived for a number of years, and then pursued her studies in the arts in Paris. During this time the work she produced was influenced by French Modernism.

Watercolour landscapes, oil-painted interiors and still lifes were typical of her early work. In Europe, painting everyday objects, figures and flowers, her canvasses were full of colour and texture.

The outbreak of the Second World War saw Sumner return to South Africa, where she made great contributions towards the New Group. She occupied a studio in Johannesburg and exhibited in 16 solo and 5 group exhibitions in a period of 7 years up to 1946.

In 1947, she returned to Europe, living in both Paris and London. This founded a new approach to her painting style, presenting bold colours and geometric forms. She applied this European approach to South African landscapes and themes, becoming more known as a landscape artist.

In these landscape paintings, she captured scenes in a poetic manner. Spiritual aspects were more prominent in these works than in the material worlds of her previous work. She was not considered a literary painter nor anecdotal, but rather her scenes captured a re-imagination of reality. In a manner, we sense this element of poetics in the n**e figurative paintings. The sensitivity prevails when she portrays the soft, fair skin of the female sitters as seen in the work exhibited in 'Faces of Modernism' and in the Hester Rupert Art Museum.

07/05/2026

Join us at on Saturday, 30 May for a morning of fun and creativity!

Surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists part of the 'Faces of Modernism' exhibition currently on show at the Centre. Participants will move through a series of energising drawing exercises, led by visiting artist and facilitator Jessica Staple.

Click below to book your spot.

Join us at the Jan Rupert Art Centre for a morning of fun and creativity, surrounded by 20th century portraits and sculptures by South African and International artists.