Judith Leyster s Self Portrait - 795 Words

Judith Leyster, 1609-1660, painter Judith Leyster was born in Haarlem, Netherlands in 1609. Her Self-Portrait (above) is actually in the National Gallery of Art, in D.C.! However, this work marks a historical shift from the rigidity of earlier, more formal self-portraits painted by female artists. Instead, she sits in a more relaxed and dynamic pose. Compared to the standards of previous Dutch portraits, it’s very casual, which was nearly unheard of during the Renaissance. Leyster was the daughter of a brewer and was the first Renaissance artist to paint scenes of home, family, and domestic scenes. She also was one of the first painters to begin introducing light sourced in her paintings, such as in The Proposition (1631). Judith Leyster’s†¦show more content†¦Instead, Protestantism seemed to emphasize genres and themes in art, including everyday objects, which made these subjects and paintings more accessible to women, and in turn created more female artists. Judith Leyster got married in 1636, to another artist who worked with similar subjects. Together, they had 5 kids, but only 2 made it to adulthood. They also moved back to Amsterdam for 11 years, looking for better economic prospects. However, they eventually moved back to the Haarlem area, though. She exemplified the growing independence of women during the Renaissance because she painted the most before marriage and having children. This could also be an example of how marriage can limit the expression and personality of a woman, especially in the 17th century. However, Judith Leyster was very bright and clever, in fact, her signature was a â€Å"JL† followed by a star. It was a play on words. Her last name, â€Å"Leister† means â€Å"Lead star† in Dutch. She was also incredibly innovative almost provocative in her domestic scenes. These were usually calm soft quiet scenes of women at home, with candlelight, and was also usually from a woman’s perspective. One example is her painting, The Proposition (1631). It is even interpreted by some as depicting a young woman receiving unwanted sexual advances, instead of a willing prostitute/participant, as would have normally been expected with thisShow MoreRelatedLeyster And Daumier Painted Everyday Life Events719 Words   |  3 Pages Leyster and Daumier painted everyday life events, despite the different intentions. The time and styles of the artwork are not similar at all, other than the intention to capture everyday life events. Leyster s Self-Portrait focused primarily on herself, how she viewed herself, and how she desired others to view her. This type of painting was extremely rare, if not unheard of during a time when female artists were seen as inferior. The Baroque style of painting exhibits bold colors and dramaticRead MoreArt History Study Guide3003 Words   |  13 Pages–[and Polydoros, Athanadoros] Laocoon and His Sons * S Chapter 10 China * 6 Dynasties (220-579) * Gu Kaizhi – Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies * Wang Xizhi –Letter Feng Ju album * Song (960-1279) * Fan Kuan –Travelers Among Mtns and Streams * Xia -12 Views from a Thatched Hut * Xu Daoning –Fishing in a Mtn Stream * Zhang Zeduan –Spring Festival on the River * S Chapter 11 Japan * Asuka (552-646) *