Transvaal Romantic : an exploration of Romantic elements in the landscape paintings of Moses Tladi

Abstract

Little comprehensive literature is available on Romantic expressions by black artists in South Africa. The work of Moses Tladi, a recently re-discovered Pedi artist, offers a unique perspective on the iconic landscape genre that found its origins in this era. The artist, recently researched by Angela Read Lloyd, was born in 1897 and made a living as a gardener for a prosperous English family in Johannesburg. His landscapes adopt the language of the Romantic sublime, expressing a fascination with nature and one’s being-in-nature as it exchanges a mimetic representation of reality for one imbued with the spiritual and imaginative. By comparing and discussing his work in relation to seminal Romantic artists such as J.M.W. Turner and David Caspar Friedrich, I hope to commemorate Tladi’s work, as well as draw attention to how his unique South African setting influenced his painting methods and Romantic inclinations. Intertwined with (and problematised by) the social and political currents of his time, Tladi’s paintings become the interpretation of nature’s forces.

Byna geen literatuur bestaan tans oor Romantiese skilderwerk deur swart kunstenaars binne die Suid-Afrikaanse kunsversameling nie. In die werk van Moses Tladi, ’n Pedi kunstenaar wat onlangs herontdek is, word daar ’n unieke perspektief op die ikoniese landskap genre gewerp, ‘n genre wat sy oorsprong in die Romantiek vind. Die kunstenaar, nagevors deur Angela Read Lloyd, is gebore in 1897 en het as tuinier gewerk by ‘n gegoede Engelse huisgesin in Johannesbug. Tladi se landskappe gebruik die taal van die Romantiese sublieme en druk ’n fassinasie met die natuur en die mens in die natuur uit, eerder as ’n wêreld-getroue uitbeelding daarvan. Deur sy werk te vergelyk met dié van belangrike Romantiese kunstenaars soos J.M.W. Turner en David Caspar Friedrich, hoop ek om Tladi se werk te herdenk, asook om aandag te vestig op die manier wat sy unieke Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede sy tegniek en Romantiese temperament beïnvloed. Verweef met (en gekompliseer deur) die sosiale en politieke strominge van sy tyd, word Tladi se skilderye ’n vertolking van die natuur se mag.