Judith Leyster was one of the few female painters of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of artistic flourishing in the 17th century. She was known for her genre scenes, portraits, and still lifes, which displayed her skillful use of light, color, and composition. She was also one of the first women to join the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, a prestigious association of painters and other artists. However, after her death in 1660, her work was largely forgotten and misattributed to other artists, such as Frans Hals and her husband Jan Miense Molenaer. How did this happen, and what was the cause of her death?
Early Life and Career
Judith Leyster was born in Haarlem, Netherlands, in 1609. She was the eighth child of a local brewer, who went bankrupt when she was young. She may have pursued painting as a way to support her family, or simply out of passion and talent. She learned painting from Frans Pietersz de Grebber, a respected painter and teacher in Haarlem. She may have also been influenced by the Utrecht Caravaggisti, a group of painters who followed the style of the Italian master Caravaggio, known for his dramatic use of light and dark.
Leyster’s first known signed work is dated 1629, when she was only 20 years old. It is a portrait of a young boy with a flute, showing her ability to capture the expression and mood of her subject. By 1633, she had become a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, which was a rare achievement for a woman at that time. Some sources say she was the first woman to join the guild, while others say it was Sara van Baalbergen in 1631. In any case, she was one of the few women who had an independent career as a painter in the 17th century.
Leyster’s most famous work is her Self-Portrait, painted around 1633. It shows her sitting at an easel, holding a palette and brushes, and looking confidently at the viewer. She wears a formal black dress with a wide lace collar, which contrasts with her lively expression and pose. The painting is remarkable for its relaxed and dynamic style, which is similar to that of Frans Hals, one of the most renowned painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Some scholars suggest that Leyster may have worked in Hals’s workshop, or at least admired his work.
Leyster painted mostly genre scenes, which are depictions of everyday life and activities. She often portrayed people playing music, drinking, or flirting, with a sense of humor and realism. She also painted portraits of children and adults, as well as still lifes of flowers and fruits. Her paintings are characterized by bright colors, lively brushstrokes, and natural light effects.
Marriage and Later Years
In 1636, Leyster married Jan Miense Molenaer, another genre painter from Haarlem. They moved to Amsterdam, where they had five children. Leyster’s painting output decreased after her marriage, as she probably devoted more time to her family and household duties. She also may have collaborated with her husband on some paintings, or helped him with his commissions.
Leyster died in 1660 in Heemstede, near Amsterdam. She was buried on February 10 in the local church. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but it may have been due to a minor illness or natural causes. She was 50 years old.
Rediscovery and Recognition
After Leyster’s death, her work was largely forgotten by the public and art historians. Many of her paintings were attributed to other artists, especially Frans Hals and Jan Miense Molenaer. This may have been due to the similarity of their styles, or the lack of documentation and signatures on some of her works.
Leyster’s work was rediscovered in 1893 by Cornelis Hofstede de Groot, a Dutch art historian who recognized her signature on a painting that was previously thought to be by Hals. He published an article about Leyster and her work in an art journal, sparking interest among scholars and collectors.
Since then, more research has been done on Leyster’s life and work, and more paintings have been identified as hers. Her work has been exhibited in several museums around the world, such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Louvre in Paris, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Leyster is now recognized as one of the most important female painters of the Dutch Golden Age, and one of the pioneers of genre painting. Her work is admired for its originality, quality, and charm.
