WILLIAM KENTRIDGE | Known, But Not Seen

Marian Goodman Gallery, Paris
Acquired from the above by the present owner

This work is in excellent condition overall. The sheet is hinged on the reverse intermittently to the backing board. There is a soft undulation to the sheet. There are artist pinholes in all 4 corners. The left and right edges of the sheet are deckled. There is scattered stray media to the sheet due to the artist's working method. Under very close inspection and with raking light, there is some very minor, non-obtrusive creasing to the perimeter of the sheet. Not examined out of the frame. Framed under Plexiglas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Drawn in Kentridge’s trademark graphic style, Known, But Not Seen is a masterful treatise in narrative and withholding, providing eye-catching visual information but concealing its context. The tripartite composition features architectonic elements that should broadcast information to us—a sound, a message, a body, but don’t. Though the artist typically employs this unique style for the purpose of time based media such as film, the static quality of the work serves to emphasize the haunted, desolate landscape Kentridge expertly renders in the various scenes within the composition. Born and raised in South Africa, Kentridge often addresses themes of apartheid, colonialism, and totalitarianism using landscapes, as well as animals and human characters as allegories, alluding through his imaginative style to these societal ills. Known, But Not Seen captures this thoughtfulness and allusiveness, showing without telling, giving enough to make the viewer ask for more and question what is around them—what might be known, and not seen.