Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Did you know that the earliest known self-portrait by a Dutch painter is created by … a woman! It dates from 1548 and is by none other than Catharina van Hemessen (who also created today's piece). Her self-portrait—showing the artist at work, holding brushes, a palette, and a stick, with a work in progress on the easel in the background—has been copied by many famous artists. This pioneer mainly painted small portraits, usually of women.

Rest on the Flight to Egypt is very big painting by her standards. She demonstrates here that she was not only capable of depicting a loving embrace, but also that she was an exceptionally good landscape artist. We present today's surprising work thanks to the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

P.S. Learn more about Catharina van Hemessen's life and her most beautiful portrayals of women.  <3

P.P.S. Would you like to learn more names of women artists? Please check out our 50 Women Artists Postcard Set.  :)