District Six with view to harbour 1953

Gregoire Boonzaier’s ‘District Six with view to harbour’ is a painting made with oil paint, that seems to delight in the materiality of the medium. The paint here is thick, almost sculptural in places, particularly where he renders the buildings on either side of the street. Look closely and you’ll see how he uses loaded brushstrokes to suggest the rough texture of the walls. The colours are muted, a mix of earthy tones and grays, with a few pops of brighter colour, like the red roofs and the blue of the harbour in the distance, this adds depth and helps to create a sense of atmosphere. I love how Boonzaier captures the energy of the street scene, people milling about, the buildings leaning in, the scene is imbued with a feeling of everyday life, a sense of place. There’s a real connection with the work of the French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, but Boonzaier brings his own South African sensibility to it, creating a unique and powerful image. It’s a painting that invites you to linger, to explore, and to imagine the lives of the people who once called this place home.