Kentridge made the portfolio of prints, titled Little Morals, set in Johannesburg, South Africa's first industrial center, as he started work on his film animations for 9 Drawings for Projection (1989-2003). It chronicles the years leading up to the nation's first nonracial democratic election, in 1994. Individual prints allude to the exploitation of land and the displacement of communities and to key events of 1990 in South Africa, including the release of anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela from prison, the lifting of bans on political opposition organizations, and talks between the African National Congress and the government.

Gallery label from

William Kentridge: Five Themes, February 24–May 17, 2010.

Medium One from a portfolio of eight aquatint, drypoint, engraving and etchings
Dimensions plate: 9 1/8 x 12 5/8" (23.2 x 32 cm); sheet: 12 11/16 x 17 5/16" (32.2 x 44 cm)
Publisher William Kentridge, Johannesburg
Printer The Caversham Press, Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Edition 45
Credit Jacqueline Brody Fund and the Anna Marie and Robert F. Shapiro Fund
Object number 283.2004.6
Department Drawings and Prints

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