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Cole, T.B., 2015. Boy and the Candle: Gerard Sekoto. JAMA, 314(21), pp.2218–2219. Available at: JAMA Network.

Smithsonian Institution, n.d. Boy and the Candle. National Museum of African Art. Available at: Smithsonian Object Page.

WikiArt, n.d. Boy and the Candle, 1943 - Gerard Sekoto. Available at: WikiArt Entry

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This artwork was created in 1943 to reflect life in Cape Town District 6. At that point, candlelight was the only source of light during those times. Sekoto focuses on the daily lives of domestic Black South Africans during apartheid.

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The painting "Boy and the candle" depicts a boy playing with the wax from a candle using a matchstick. The soft glow of the candlelight illuminates his face slightly. This scene creates a striking difference between him and the darkness surrounding him. Sekoto uses subtle colours and a flattened perspective to create the feeling of emotional warmth.

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The main point is the boy. His gaze towards the candle symbolizes his curiosity about the faint light of the candle, the solitude of it, and his responsibility.

Then the light symbolizes a hope for the future and peace during hardships.

And the dark background reflects the dark and suffocating reality of the poor black districts during apartheid.

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Gerard Sekoto was a pioneer of South African modernist art and one of the first Black artists in the country to work professionally with oil paints. Gerard grew up in a religious household, and then later he moved to Johannesburg> After the move, he became part of a bright, intellectual, multiracial community. The artwork often reflected the socio-economic struggle of urban black South Africans during the era of apartheid. Gerard was a fan of using bold colours that blend strong emotional depth to bring his art to life.

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Title: Boy and the Candle

Artist: Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993)

Date: 1943

Style: Expressionism

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Genre: Painting