JEA VOLSCHENK

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Cachet: The cachet shows a formal portrait of Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk framed within a decorative oval border, painted in soft, muted tones. He is depicted in his later years, with white hair, round spectacles and a neat moustache, dressed in a dark jacket and tie. The framing gives the portrait a dignified, gallery like quality, setting a fitting tone for the four landscape paintings shown on the stamps beside it. Below the portrait the cover reads "Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk, Skilder · Painter, 1853-1936" in plain black type.

Info card

J.E.A. VOLSCHENK Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk was born in 1853 on the farm Melkhoutkraal in the Riversdale district. He lived on the farm until his 13th birthday. On the recommendation of Gysbert Reitz he went to school at Riversdale and later worked for Reitz and Versfeld as an accountant. In 1899 he married Helen Smalberger and they had nine daughters. As child, Jan Volschenk revealed a great interest in nature around him and was already spending much time at drawing. He followed his own mind however, and never had any training. In 1893 he accompanied the Reitz family to Europe, where he not only became acquainted with the great European works of art, but also made sketches. In 1904 he resigned as accountant and became a professional artist. The scenery in the Western Cape, the environs of Riversdale, the Langeberg Mountains, George, Knysna Franschhoek and Worcester in particular attracted his attention. The Langeberg Mountains got preference — the veld with aloes, shrubs, heath and a sporadic tree in the foreground, and the high mountains in the background. Initially the shapes were coloured in, with a yellowish sheen over the whole. Later his work became more picturesque and the landscape was built up full of particulars in bright green and light blue as patches of light. After his trip to Europe the colours in the foreground were increasingly given in full glow, whereas hazy mountains in the background acquired a majestic appearance. He had a sharp eye for light and through his own efforts and perception succeeded in developing a typical personal style. The appearance of the landscape was important to him and he tried to render it as accurately and true to nature as was possible. During this period the public were more or less ignorant of art. However, Volschenk's paintings, with their honest approach and pleasant mood, attracted attention and after 1914 they became very popular. He sold most of them out of hand and Messrs Lezard in Johannesburg distributed many of his works. Thus Volschenk became the first professional artist born in South Africa to achieve wide fame. He used what was intrinsic in nature to open the eyes of his people and thus assisted in paving the way for modern art in this country. He died in 1936. Volschenk did not hold many exhibitions, but his work is represented in every leading art gallery in the country. J.E.A. VOLSCHENK Jan Ernst Abraham Volschenk is in 1853 op die plaas Melkhoutkraal in die distrik Riversdal gebore. Tot sy 13e jaar het hy op die plaas gewoon. Op aanbeveling van Gysbert Reitz het hy op Riversdal skoolgegaan en later as boekhouer by Reitz en Versfeld gewerk. Hy is in 1899 met Helen Smalberger getroud en hulle het nege dogters gehad. Jan Volschenk het as kind groot belangstelling vir die natuur om hom getoon en hy het reeds baie tyd aan tekenwerk bestee. Hy het sy eie rigting gevolg en nooit enige onderrig ontvang nie. In 1893 reis hy saam met die Reitzgesin na Europa waar hy nie net met die groot Europese kunsskatte kennis maak nie, maar ook self sketse maak. In 1904 bedank hy as boekhouer en word beroepskunstenaar. Veral die Wes-Kaapse landskap, die omgewing van Riversdal, die Langeberge, George, Knysna, Franschhoek en Worcester het sy aandag getrek. Die Langeberge het sy voorkeur geniet — die veld op die voorgrond met aalwyne, struike, heide en 'n sporadiese boom, en die hoë berge op die agtergrond. Aanvanklik is die vorme ingekleur, met 'n gelerige glans oor die geheel. Later het sy werk skilderagtiger geword en die landskap is vol besonderhede in helder groen en ligblou as kleurkolle opgebou. Na sy Europese reis is die kleure op die voorgrond in toenemende mate in volle gloed weergegewe terwyl wasige berge op die agtergrond 'n grootse voorkoms gekry het. Hy het 'n skerp oog vir lig gehad en hy het daarin geslaag om uit die eie pogings en aanvoeling 'n tipiese persoonlike styl te ontwikkel. Die voorkoms van die landskap was vir hom belangrik en hy het gestrewe om dit so noukeurig en natuurgetrou moontlik weer te gee. Die publiek was in dié tyd nagenoeg onbewus van kuns. Volschenk se skilderye, met hul eerlike benadering en aangename stemming, het egter aandag getrek en na 1914 het hulle baie gewild geword. Die meeste het hy uit die hand verkoop en die firma Lezard in Johannesburg het baie van sy werke versprei. Sodoende het Volschenk die eerste Suid-Afrikaans gebore professionele skilder geword wat wye bekendheid verwerf het. Hy het dit wat in die landskap eie is, gebruik om die oë van sy mense vir kuns te open en só gehelp om die weg vir die moderne kuns in ons land te baan. Hy is in 1936 oorlede. Volschenk het min uitstallings gehou, maar sy werk is in elke vooraanstaande kunsmuseum in die land verteenwoordig.

Additional information

This cover is postmarked on 21 August 1978 in Riversdale, Volschenk's home district, and carries an additional "Skilder · Painter" cancellation reproducing his own signature. The four stamps depict Volschenk's landscape paintings of the Western Cape, largely centred on the Langeberg Mountains and surrounding veld that he painted throughout his career. Volschenk had no formal art training and worked as an accountant until 1904, when he resigned to paint full time at the age of 51. He went on to become the first professional artist born in South Africa to achieve wide recognition, and though he held few exhibitions in his lifetime, his work is represented in every leading art gallery in the country today.

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