Irma Stern was a South African artist, whose expressive portraits rendered in saturated colors were among her most widely known pieces. The painter and sculptor traveled throughout Africa to capture not only likenesses, but also landscapes that are unique to the continent. Born on October 2, 1894 in Schweizer-Reneke, South Africa, Stern moved to Berlin to study art during World War I. In 1916, she had her first solo show with the help of German painter Max Pechstein, and her exposure to Expressionism would figure heavily as an influence on her career. Her work was not well received upon her return, but eventually drew acclaim and she is considered one of the foremost South African artists. Stern died on August 23, 1966 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1971, her home—known as “The Firs”—was made the Irma Stern Museum by the University of Cape Town.