About the artist

Günther Friedrich Julius van der Reis is a South African postwar and contemporary painter. Born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1927, he relocated with his parents to South Africa in 1937. He studied at the Michaelis School of Art at the University of Cape Town and later earned an MA in Art from the University of Pretoria. Following a lengthy teaching career, he became a full-time artist in 1988.

As a mixed media artist, van der Reis focuses on creating texture in his works, drawing inspiration from nature and the landscapes around him. His artwork holds an important place in the South African modern art movement. As a young artist, he was influenced by Spanish artists, which shaped the direction of his artistic career.