12.2 Notable women painters and their works

Women artists in the Dutch Golden Age made significant contributions, despite facing societal barriers. Judith Leyster, Maria van Oosterwijck, and Rachel Ruysch gained recognition for their genre scenes, portraits, and still lifes, showcasing their talent and skill.

Clara Peeters, Michaelina Wautier, Anna Maria van Schurman, and Gesina ter Borch further expanded the scope of female artistry. Their diverse works, ranging from still lifes to historical scenes, demonstrated the capabilities of women in various artistic genres.

Notable Women Painters

Judith Leyster (1609-1660)

• Dutch Golden Age painter known for her genre scenes and portraits
• One of the few female artists to be admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, a professional organization for artists
• Her work often depicted everyday life and domestic scenes, such as "The Proposition" (1631) which shows a man offering a young woman money, possibly for sexual favors
• Leyster's paintings were characterized by her use of dramatic lighting and expressive facial expressions, as seen in her self-portrait from 1633
• Her style was influenced by the Utrecht Caravaggists, who used strong contrasts of light and dark (chiaroscuro) to create a sense of drama and depth

Maria van Oosterwijck (1630-1693) and Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750)

• Dutch Golden Age painters who specialized in still life paintings of flowers and fruits
• Van Oosterwijck was one of the few female artists to achieve international recognition during her lifetime
  • Her highly detailed and realistic paintings often featured exotic flowers and insects, reflecting the Dutch fascination with botany and scientific inquiry
  • Examples of her work include "Vanitas Still Life" (1668) and "Flower Still Life with Butterfly and Lizard" (1686)
• Ruysch was the daughter of a famous botanist and learned to paint from Van Oosterwijck
  • She became one of the most successful female artists of the Dutch Golden Age, receiving commissions from royalty and nobility across Europe
  • Her paintings were known for their scientific accuracy and use of vibrant colors, as seen in works like "Flowers in a Vase" (1699) and "Fruit and Flowers" (1716)

Clara Peeters (1594-1657) and Michaelina Wautier (1614-1689)

• Flemish Baroque painters who were active in the early to mid-17th century
• Peeters is known for her still life paintings of food and tableware, which often included symbolic elements related to religious themes or moral messages
  • Her work is characterized by its realistic depiction of textures and reflective surfaces, as seen in paintings like "Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels" (1615) and "Still Life with Fish and Cat" (1620)
• Wautier was a versatile artist who painted portraits, historical scenes, and genre scenes in addition to still lifes
  • She was one of the few female artists of her time to paint large-scale historical and mythological scenes, such as "The Triumph of Bacchus" (1650) and "Achilles Discovered by Ulysses and Diomedes" (1649)
  • Her portraits, like "Portrait of a Commander" (1649), showcase her ability to convey the personality and status of her subjects through their poses and expressions

Accomplished Female Artists

Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678)

• Dutch Golden Age painter, engraver, and scholar who was renowned for her knowledge of languages, philosophy, and theology
• She was the first woman to attend university lectures in the Netherlands, although she had to sit behind a screen to avoid distracting male students
• Van Schurman's artistic talents included painting, engraving, and paper-cutting (papercutting)
  • Her self-portrait from 1640 showcases her skill in capturing likeness and conveying a sense of intelligence and self-assurance
  • She also created intricate paper-cut artworks, such as "Self-Portrait in Paper-Cutting" (1640), which demonstrated her mastery of this delicate technique

Gesina ter Borch (1631-1690)

• Dutch Golden Age artist who worked primarily in watercolors and drawings
• She was the daughter of Gerard ter Borch the Elder and the sister of Gerard ter Borch the Younger, both renowned painters
• Gesina ter Borch's artwork often depicted scenes from everyday life, such as women engaged in domestic tasks or leisure activities
  • Her watercolor "Woman Combing a Child's Hair" (c. 1658) showcases her ability to capture intimate moments with sensitivity and attention to detail
  • She also created detailed studies of clothing and fabrics, which served as reference material for her brother's paintings, as seen in her drawing "Study of a Satin Dress" (c. 1655)
• In addition to her artistic pursuits, Gesina ter Borch kept a detailed diary and album of her family's activities, providing valuable insights into the life of a 17th-century Dutch family