Moussa Diouf (1939-1982), one of the godfathers of Congolese and Zambian art

Rops, from Belgium, sells on 17 April 2016 a "Moussa Diouf" signed work, estimated at 140 to 200 Euro.

It is a work from the 1970s (it is dated, but I can't see whether it is 1970 ir 1976) in the typical style of Diouf. At first, I could find very little information about him or images of his work though, but what there is shows that he is a major name in the early Congolese and Zambian painting scenes, and as such deserves more recognition.

Then I found this book by Bennetta Jules-Rosette online, and I finally got some background on the man. In brief: born in Kinshasa, then in Belgian Congo, on 24 October 1939. Worked a few years as an illustrator for UNESCO before becoming an independent painter. Illustrated the Congolese pavillion at the Montreal 1967 Expo. Became a teacher at the Academy of Kinshasa. Got further government recognition in 1970.

Left Congo because of the censorship and went to live in the slums of Lusaka, Zambia in 1974. Became there the founder and main man of the Kanyama circle of artists. Made his living by sellingsimple art to tourists at the airport and in the city, but signed these works "Muntu". Works signed Diouf or Moussa Diouf were his personal, serious art.

He returned to Congo in 1979 and again worked in Zambia by 1982, this time settling in Kitwe, where he died in June of the same year.

The book states that he introduced (among his circle) the palette knife in 1976. If so, then it seems not unlikely that the painting is indeed dated 1976 and that this is one of his first works in that style.

The Museum for Middle Africa of Tervuren has three of his works, at least one of those was displayed in their exhibition on modern art from Lubumbashi.

What's it worth? It "should" be worth at least in the low thousands, being a good work by an important modern artist (for Congolese and Zambian art at least). It's the kind of artist and work that may soar in a decade, when the country gets more stable and rich locals want to collect their own art (a process seen in many other countries already). But it may just as well take a lot longer, or he can be, in the art history writing that still needs to be done, become an also-ran, of some importance but not major, and never fetch high prices.

You definitely can't go wrong at the estimated price though.

UPDATE: strange, the picture is missing from the Rops results, which are normally fairly complete. perhaps it still needs to be added...

UPDATE 2: again for sale in their next auction, 22 May 2016, so either unsold or sold but unpaid.

UPDATE 3: now sold for 160 Euro, which in the long run will probably be a bargain (certainly if Zaire ever gets stable and more prosperous).