Maria van Oosterwijck
Maria van Oosterwijck honed her artistic skills under the guidance of the renowned painter Jan Davidsz. de Heem. After a period of apprenticeship, she ventured into independent work. Eventually, she relocated to Amsterdam, where she set up her studio across from the contemporary still-life painter Willem van Aelst. Immersed in the vibrant creative circles of the highly sought-after Dutch Golden Age painters, van Oosterwijck cleverly promoted her artwork internationally and gained the patronage of notable figures such as Louis XIV of France, the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, and William III of England.
Despite her remarkable success, van Oosterwijck faced the unfortunate circumstance of being denied membership in the painters' guild, as she was a woman. Nevertheless, as one of the very few women recognized as a professional artist in the 17th century, the context of van Oosterwijck's work holds significant historical importance.
This compact canvas, where the artist employs vibrant colors set against a dark backdrop, represents van Oosterwijck's still life creations. Recognizing her profound religious faith is crucial, which permeates all her compositions. She meticulously selects colors laden with symbolic significance, with white symbolizing innocence, red representing martyrdom, and the frequent inclusion of butterflies as a symbol of Christ's resurrection.
If you like flowers in art, please check out our Flowers in Art 50 Postcards Set, which is chock full of flowers (including van Oosterwijck's). You will find it in our DailyArt Shop!
P.S. Maria van Oosterwijck wasn't the only female painter who made a career during the era of Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer. Meet the women of the Dutch Golden Age!