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M.H. Laddé, drawing class at the academy with a.o. Lizzy Ansingh and model Mrs Foks, ca. 1900, photo, RKD, The Hague

This photograph shows a drawing class for women at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam in about 1895. Some of the students are making drawings of a still life that is just outside the frame, on the table in the right foreground. Others are drawing the model whose name is Mrs Foks. To the left, dressed in black, we see the young painter Lizzy Ansingh who later became a member of the group of female artists known as The Amsterdamse Joffers.
The scene gives a good impression of art education for women at the end of the nineteenth century. Together with other similar photographs it constituted an interesting source of information to Hanna Klarenbeek, who for the last four years has been working on her doctoral thesis ‘Paintbrush princesses & professional paintresses’ at the RKD. Her research focused on various forms of art education for women, as well as professional practice among women artists and the reception of their work. The results will be presented in a richly illustrated book entitled Penseelprinsessen & broodschilderessen. Vrouwen in de beeldende kunst 1808-1913 (Paint Brush Princesses & Professional Paintresses. Women in the fine arts 1808-1913), due to be published by Thoth in February 2012. The publication will provide many new insights into the position of Dutch women artists in the nineteenth century uncovering a host of forgotten talents. It accompanies the double exhibition ‘Paintbrush princesses’ to be held at Het Loo Palace from 18 February to 27 May 2012, and at the Mesdag Collection from 30 May to 26 August 2012.

For more information, see www.penseelprinsessen.nl.