Laubscher sets record auction price for SA living artist


Steve Kretzmann

The price paid for an artwork by Erik Laubscher which went up on auction at the summer decorative and fine arts auction in Kirstenbosch on February 24, has set a new South African record for a living artist.
Laubscher’s painting from the 1950’s, ‘Still Life with Mandolin, Music Score and Fruit’, sold for R1.14 million, five times the pre-sale estimate posted in the catalogue by Stephan Welz & Co. in association with Sotheby’s. Up until recently, work by Laubscher, who is a master of virtually all genres of the abstract, has sold in the region of R50 000 – R70 000. 82-year-old Laubscher, who lives in Cape Town and continues to paint, said he was eating his “humble breakfast, barefoot, wearing old shorts”, when he was given the news. “I am dazed,” he said. He said he could not imagine the “incredible honour or the impact” the sale would have on works he has kept for almost 60 years. But he said he was being “quite cool” about it and “not shouting yippee! You’ve got to wait for the next one (sale).” It just makes drawing up my will a lot more complicated.”

Erik Laubscher’s “Still Life with Mandolin, Music Score and Fruit” selling for R1 120 000