Daniël Cornelis Boonzaier
Encyclopedia
Daniël Cornelis Boonzaier (11 November 1865 Patatsrivier, Carnarvon, Northern Cape dist - 20 March 1950 Cape Town
), was a South African cartoonist.
Boonzaier received his first education at Carnarvon and later joined the local magistrate's office. When 16 years old he was transferred to Cape Town where he served in the Colonial Office and Orphan Chamber, remaining in civil service until 1899. The theatre appealed to him and he in turn played a few roles, produced, and worked as make-up artist. His real interest, though, lay in drawing, something which had been encouraged by a teacher while he was still at school. In Cape Town he was inspired by the work of William Howard Schröder
, a cartoonist and publisher of the humorous weekly, 'The Knobkerrie'. Later he met Schröder when a work of his was accepted for publication. Boonzaier never enjoyed any formal art tuition, but instead closely studied the work of George du Maurier
and Phil May of Punch
fame. In 1891 he started work on a gallery of South African and foreign notables and persuaded them to sign their caricatures. This collection was not of much artistic merit, but was historically of great interest, since it included personalities such as Paul Kruger
, Piet Joubert, Ellen Terry
, Sarah Bernhardt
, Henrik Ibsen
, Leo Tolstoy
, Émile Zola
, Alphonse Daudet
and Pierre Loti
.
A number of newspapers, such as Cape Punch, The Telephone and The Owl, began regularly publishing his cartoons, and 1901 saw the appearance of his first book of drawings, "Owlographs:A Collection of Cape Celebrities in Caricature".
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
), was a South African cartoonist.
Boonzaier received his first education at Carnarvon and later joined the local magistrate's office. When 16 years old he was transferred to Cape Town where he served in the Colonial Office and Orphan Chamber, remaining in civil service until 1899. The theatre appealed to him and he in turn played a few roles, produced, and worked as make-up artist. His real interest, though, lay in drawing, something which had been encouraged by a teacher while he was still at school. In Cape Town he was inspired by the work of William Howard Schröder
William Howard Schröder
William Howard Schröder 'Willie' , was a South African artist, cartoonist and publisher. Willie was the eldest in a family of 4 sons and 6 daughters. Never a robust child, he preferred the company of a book or drawing materials to that of his peers...
, a cartoonist and publisher of the humorous weekly, 'The Knobkerrie'. Later he met Schröder when a work of his was accepted for publication. Boonzaier never enjoyed any formal art tuition, but instead closely studied the work of George du Maurier
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
and Phil May of Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
fame. In 1891 he started work on a gallery of South African and foreign notables and persuaded them to sign their caricatures. This collection was not of much artistic merit, but was historically of great interest, since it included personalities such as Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
, Piet Joubert, Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
, Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
, Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
, Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
, Émile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
, Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet was a French novelist. He was the father of Léon Daudet and Lucien Daudet.- Early life :Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune...
and Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti was a French novelist and naval officer.-Biography:Loti's education began in his birthplace, Rochefort, Charente-Maritime. At the age of seventeen he entered the naval school in Brest and studied at Le Borda. He gradually rose in his profession, attaining the rank of captain in 1906...
.
A number of newspapers, such as Cape Punch, The Telephone and The Owl, began regularly publishing his cartoons, and 1901 saw the appearance of his first book of drawings, "Owlographs:A Collection of Cape Celebrities in Caricature".