Artwork
Self-portrait
Self-portrait is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Henriette Wolters-van Pee. It dates from 1732 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1732, this intimate oval portrait presents the artist herself, Henriette Wolters‑van Pee, rendered on a sheet of ivory.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1732, this intimate oval portrait presents the artist herself, Henriette Wolters‑van Pee, rendered on a sheet of ivory. The work measures only a few centimeters across and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed as an example of early‑18th‑century Dutch portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with light hair gathered at the back, a modest white lace collar and a dark pearl necklace. Her eyes meet the viewer directly, and a subtle smile suggests a composed self‑presentation, balancing personal modesty with a quiet confidence typical of women artists asserting their professional identity.
Technique & Style
The artist employed the delicate surface of ivory, a material prized for its smoothness and translucency, allowing fine gradations of tone. Soft, muted pigments and meticulous brushwork give the facial features a lifelike presence, while the plain dark background isolates the figure, emphasizing the subtle modeling of skin and fabric.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the portrait has remained in the Netherlands, eventually entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. Documentation traces its acquisition to the museum’s early 20th‑century efforts to assemble works by lesser‑known Dutch painters, highlighting Wolters‑van Pee’s place in the national artistic heritage.
Context
In the early 1700s, few women in the Dutch Republic pursued professional painting, and self‑portraiture served both as a demonstration of skill and a means of self‑advocacy. Wolters‑van Pee’s choice of ivory—a costly and uncommon support—underscores her ambition to align herself with the refined portrait traditions of her male contemporaries.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henriette Wolters-van Pee (1682–1741) was an artist, born in Amsterdam.
