Shop Judith Leyster, on a fine art print for your home

About the Design

Judith Leyster (1609-1660) gazes from her self-portrait, almost laughing. Born in Haarlem, the Netherlands, Leyster was a well-known artist by her mid-teens. Her youth and training are unclear, as documentary evidence is scarce, and she only began signing her works in 1629. Yet her adult life was full of remarkable success: By 1633 she was a member of the Saint Luke’s Guild of Haarlem, the first woman admitted for whom an oeuvre can be cited, and in 1635 she is recorded as having three students. Her works were more relaxed, as evidenced by her self-portrait. Unfortunately, Leyster seems to have stopped painting after marriage - though this may be an oversight. Until 1893, most of her works were attributed to her husband, and the historical record is only now making amends for overlooking her accomplishments.