Bo Kaap - DinksFãStan Private Collection 1944

This small picture of Bo-Kaap, is probably a pastel on paper by Gregoire Boonzaier. It’s all about the process, you can see the marks, the smudges, that give it a real sense of life. The blues and creams are layered, a bit chalky and soft, which creates this hazy atmosphere. Look closely at the way he's rendered the buildings, right, with the cool white and dark windows. It's not photorealistic, it’s a feeling, a memory of a place, right? There's something about the casual, almost careless strokes that make it so intimate. That little patch of yellow near the chimney, for example, it’s like a tiny burst of sunshine. Boonzaier reminds me of some of the early Fauves, like, maybe, Derain, who had a similar way of capturing a place. This piece isn't trying to be definitive; it's more like a suggestion, a starting point. A little gem.