Black printmakers have a long history in the South African art world. Many of South Africa's top Black artists, both past and present are also printmakers. Black printmakers who are established artists are survivors of the dysfunctional society that existed during the apartheid era and are a constant source of inspiration to a younger generation of Black printmakers.

There are a few Black printmakers who worked almost exclusively in print. Among these are the late John Muafangejo (a Namibian artist), Dan Rakgoathe and Cyprian Shilakoe. All three artists played a valuable role in establishing a sound base for future generations of black printmakers to work on and their work is highly collectable. All three studied at the Rorkes Drift community art centre.

Rorkes Drift was also the educational home of some of the country's top contemporary Black printmakers. Sam Nhlengethwa, Dumisani Mabaso and Tony Nkotsi all studied there. These artists continue to work in print and are involved in teaching the new generation of Black printmakers that includes Osiah Masekoameng, Trevor Theloe and Robert Maledu. The latter have all studied and worked at the Artist Proof studio, which is a community printmaking centre in Newtown, Johannesburg. The work produced at the studio tends to have a strong social message and is a way for the young artists here to explore issues of culture, tradition, politics and change.

Nhlanhla Xaba was instrumental in establishing the Artist Proof Studio and until his tragic death in a fire that gutted the studio was producing some of the finest prints made by any Black printmaker or by any printmaker in the country for that matter. To view work by some of these artists please go to www.artprintsa.com

Tamar Mason, artist and writer focussing on original prints and investment art in Southren Africa