Art of the Archive: Monochromatic Portraiture

Few university museums are fortunate to have two archival repositories dedicated to their collections. At the University of Pretoria, there is the newly founded UP Museum Archive and the Mapungubwe Archive, both repositories containing diverse primary material to serve as research resources.

The Mapungubwe Archive provides researchers with a unique opportunity to explore the region's history, culture, and environment through a diverse collection of primary sources. Early photographs remain uncaptioned, and many portraits  depict the silences of history.

While the archive provides the raw material for writing history, the archive can also be contested and questioned in detail owing to its many gaps. More acute questions can be formulated about why the archives are holding invaluable contents but have also neglected certain histories.

The University of Pretoria Museum Archive spans over a 110-year history. The collections date back to 1922, before it was opened in 1968 as a university museum. The archive is a repository for the history of collections, the history of museums, the artworks and artist histories.

This drawing by Anton van Wouw depicts Ewald Auguste Esselen, a prominent figure in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Created in 1894, it commemorates Esselen's appointment as State Attorney, highlighting his significant legal role in South African history.

This archival photograph taken by M Schoonraad in 1981 captures a portrait of General Koos de la Rey, a prominent figure in the Second Boer War. The sketch by the South African Anton van Wouw, captures De la Rey's eyes, and his strong leadership and legacy in South African history.

This drawing by the renowned South African sculptor Anton van Wouw, captures the likeness of Herman Coster, a significant figure in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. The portrait was completed in 1902 and intended for a memorial in the Palace of Justice in Pretoria.

This portrait captures Anton van Wouw, a renowned Dutch-born sculptor who made significant contributions to South African art. The photograph, taken in 1898, showcases van Wouw's distinguished presence and artistic talent.

Frans Oerder, a Dutch-born artist known for his landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, painted this portrait of Anton van Wouw, a prominent South African sculptor. The painting immortalises van Wouw's artistic and sculptural contributions to the country.

This plaster work, by Anton van Wouw, portrays General H T Lukin, a prominent figure in South African history. The work showcases Lukin's distinguished presence and military leadership. Van Wouw's artistry captures Lukin's legacy and contributions.

Anton van Wouw's masterful sketch depicts Gerard Beelaerts van Blokland, a pivotal figure in the South African Republic. Serving as a European envoy and Speaker of the House, van Blokland's contributions are captured in this striking portrait.

Museum archives offer a window into the past, showcasing individual stories and broader historical contexts of art collections. The portraits within these archives, though frozen in time, carry a depth that invites reflection on the lives and identities they represent and the meanings they carry into the present.