Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Bolsters 'Women of the Rijksmuseum' Project with New Research Team
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is expanding its significant "Women of the Rijksmuseum" research project with the addition of five new researchers. This initiative, supported by private donors and partner CHANEL, aims to bring greater visibility to women across the museum's extensive collection, exhibitions, and displays.
Enhancing Female Stories in the Rijksmuseum Collection
Launched in 2022, the "Women of the Rijksmuseum" project seeks to permanently highlight the roles and contributions of women. The research team's goal is to uncover fresh insights about female portrait subjects, artists, and benefactors, as well as to re-evaluate existing narratives from a female perspective. So far, the project has already enriched 150 gallery texts with stories about women and introduced a new audio tour focused on these perspectives, launched on March 4, 2024, with support from ING.
The six researchers involved in the project over the coming years will explore diverse topics. Their areas of focus include the museum's female benefactors, female narratives within 18th-century decorative arts, and the artistic contributions of Bramine Hubrecht. Their discoveries will be integrated into gallery labels, featured in The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, and shared online.
Engaging with Current Discourses: The 'Women in the Museum' Symposium
As part of its ongoing commitment, the Rijksmuseum hosted its annual "Women in the Museum" symposium on March 5, 2024. Titled "Reclaiming & Reframing," the event addressed contemporary developments in the museum sector related to female representation. Keynote speakers included Janina Ramirez, author of Femina, and Estrella de Diego, author of The Sexed Androgyne. The symposium also featured curators from notable exhibitions such as "Making her Mark" (Baltimore, 2023) and "It’s Pablo-matic!" (Brooklyn, 2023). Further details about the symposium were available on the Rijksmuseum website here.
Showcasing Female Artists: Recent Additions to the Collection
The museum's efforts to highlight female contributions extend to its collection. In 2023 and 2024, the Rijksmuseum received several works by female artists on long-term loan. These include Judith Leyster’s Two Children with a Cat (c. 1630) and three paintings by Charley Toorop. New acquisitions also feature a 1692 papercut by Joanna Koerten and an early self-portrait (c. 1885) by Thérèse Schwartze, which was identified through a public valuation event. The museum also acquired a marble bust by Thérèse Schwartze’s sister, Georgina, and Lady Laura Theresa Alma Tadema’s painting Airs and Graces (c. 1872-1909) has been added to the galleries.
Additionally, a new book, Geesje & Anna, will be released on May 7, 2024. Authored by Jenny Reynaerts, it chronicles her investigation into the lives of George Hendrik Breitner’s models, known for his kimono paintings.
Supporting Research and Discovery
This extensive research project is made possible through the dedicated support of various funds and partners. These include CHANEL, the Sofronie Foundation, and several family funds. Notably, the Hendrikje Crebolder Fund was established on March 1, 2024, to specifically support the "Women of the Rijksmuseum" research.
The "Women of the Rijksmuseum" project represents a continued commitment to enriching the cultural narrative by ensuring women's stories are prominently featured. To explore more about the Rijksmuseum and other cultural experiences in Amsterdam, visit Musemap (musemap.art) and browse local museums or see what's on.
