Irma Stern: African in Europe, European in Africa

This meticulously researched book by art critic Sean O’Toole is the best possible general introduction to Irma Stern’s art and life that anyone could ask for. Divided into six chapters that deal with the artist’s output and experiences (largely) chronologically, and beautifully designed and printed – the colour plates are gorgeous – the book is very visually appealing in spite of its neat, readable size. What’s more, you needn’t have a degree in art history to enjoy the text: O’Toole’s lucid prose makes Irma Stern easy to read as well as informative and illuminating. He assesses Stern’s work and her changing place within the canon of South African art history with an astute eye, exploring multiple viewpoints on the artist’s aesthetics with politically compassionate clarity.