Ottilie W. Roederstein
The German-Swiss painter Ottilie W. Roederstein (1859–1937) was one of the outstanding women artists of the period around 1900. After training in Zurich, Berlin, and Paris, she lived in Frankfurt am Main from 1891 to 1909, when she and her partner, the gynecologist Elisabeth Winterhalter, settled in the neighboring town of Hofheim am Taunus. As a freelance portraitist, Roederstein was a firmly established name in the male-dominated world of art and self-confidently defied prevailing societal norms. Her multifaceted œuvre mirrored numerous modernist tendencies, from academic art and experiments with old-masterly tempera painting to stylistic devices of Impressionism, Symbolism, and New Objectivity. Despite her extensive exhibition activities and her onetime reputation, she is today virtually unknown.
Anything but still ... this still life almost bubbles over with energy, because Roederstein is playing a radical game with the principles of color theory. Unchecked, blue encounters yellow and red encounters green. The opposing colors heighten each other to achieve their full brilliance. The different structures of the surfaces of the basket, fruits, fabric, and wallpaper create exciting effects. Only the smooth white tablecloth allows the eye to come to rest.
We present today's work thanks to the Städel Museum where, until October 16, 2022, you can visit the exhibition devoted to Roederstein entitled Self Determined, which is a comprehensive retrospective comprising altogether 75 paintings and drawings.
Roederstein is one of the amazing women artists who needs a proper recognition. Please check the products with art created by women we have for you in our DailyArt Shop.
P.S. Ottilie W. Roederstein belongs to many women artists that remain unknown today, let's change this! Here are profiles of 5 modern women artists that you need to meet!