Signed oil on canvas on board, currently on display. Reference S1066.
This undated painting depicts three children absorbed in play on a beach. Its Fauvist palette and style draw comparisons with Sekoto’s mid to late 1950s works, including Figures on a Street, A Township Street and African Village Scene.
The painting is associated with the productive period that followed Sekoto’s difficult early years in Paris. Having left South Africa in 1947, he faced financial insecurity, inadequate accommodation and limited space to paint, supporting himself through work as a musician. These struggles affected both his wellbeing and his painting.
His circumstances improved after meeting Marthe Bailon, who rented him rooms in her Saint-Germain-des-Prés apartment. Their relationship developed into a romantic partnership, bringing stability and renewed productivity. Strong colour returned to his palette as he found fresh approaches to painting and exhibited in Europe, America and South Africa.
Alongside Parisian subjects, Sekoto continued to depict Ndebele and Basotho women, as well as children. This beach scene likely draws on his visits to the French Riviera with Bailon, who owned a home in Toulon. Although her poor health meant they spent much of their time indoors, Sekoto valued these visits as an opportunity to work.
The composition reflects his close observation of everyday life and his exploration of colour and subjects beyond the studio.
Provenance
Private collection before 2013. Subsequently sold through Bonhams in 2013 and Strauss Fine Art, South Africa. Acquired by The Gallery at Hayling in 2024.
