Ottilie Roederstein was an internationally respected artist during her lifetime. She was educated in Paris and regularly exhibited her paintings at the salons from 1883 to 1913 as well as at the world exhibitions of 1889 and 1900. In 1891, Roederstein settled in Frankfurt am Main together with her partner, the German gynecologist Elisabeth H. Winterhalter. Here, the two women, whose partnership was socially accepted, became involved in the local women's movement.
Roederstein specialized in figure paintings, mainly portraits, which she commissioned, but she also painted allegorical and biblical subjects as well as nudes and scenes from everyday life. In addition, the painter was also known for her still lifes. These are often characterized by a clear and simple pictorial structure, such as the painting we present today. A red-covered surface shows a plain beige ceramic pot in which six brushes of different types stand. In front of it, a rectangular palette is placed at an angle, holding two brushes. On the palette, the artist has applied the three primary colors blue, red, and yellow in mixed tones. Within the composition, which is built up of warm red, orange, and yellow tones, the blue spot is given a strong weight.
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