| The South African art world is relatively small and the | | | | by Stephen Inggs and the Artists' Proof Studio in |
| market grapples with the nature of the economy of | | | | Newtown, Johannesburg. |
| the country, which is a combination of the developed | | | | Finally there are the "private" South African |
| and developing world. Artists of the caliber of William | | | | Printmakers who rely on the work that they produce |
| Kentridge and an illiterate sculptor living on the border | | | | to sustain their printmaking activities. The Artists' |
| of the Kruger Park both call the country home. It is | | | | Press in White River ( The Piglet Press in |
| against this backdrop that South African printmakers | | | | Johannesburg and Hard Ground Printmakers |
| work and have over the past few decades opened | | | | Workshop in Cape Town are all examples of this |
| studios and workshops to meet their own and other | | | | group. The media that they work in depends on the |
| artists needs. | | | | expertise and field of interest of the master printers |
| South African Printmakers come from three | | | | who run the workshops. |
| backgrounds. Some artists will specialize in printmaking | | | | In the past the identity of South African printmakers |
| while they are studying and will go on to set up | | | | tended to be tied up in the world of linocuts and |
| studios that cater for their own needs. John Moore is | | | | woodblock prints. This medium has developed the |
| an example of this as he does all of his woodblock | | | | reputation of being a particularly African way of doing |
| printing himself. Other South African Printmakers can | | | | prints. From Cecil Skotnes and Dan Rakgoathe to |
| be found affiliated to "public" institutions such as | | | | Sandile Goje South African printmakers have |
| universities, Technikon and community arts studios. | | | | mastered these techniques. Woodblock and lino cut |
| These organizations are funded and do not have to | | | | printing is a relatively accessible way to make prints |
| rely on the services that they provide for an income. | | | | and can be done with a minimum of materials and |
| Examples of these South African printmakers would | | | | equipment. It also lends itself well to the tradition of |
| be Kim Berman at the Witwatersrand Technikon, The | | | | carving in Southern African Art. |
| Michaelis Art School Printmaking department headed | | | | |