Judith Leyster Goes to Auction

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

My current Zoom course for the month of May is titled From Muse to Master: Celebrating Women Artists vol. 1 and one of the topics we discuss is how women artists were strategically and deliberately “erased” from art history. On the surface, that statement may sound bold and a little extreme, but it couldn’t be more accurate.

Take for example, the work of Dutch Baroque painter Judith Leyster, who is one of the artists we discuss in the current Zoom course. A contemporary and colleague of Frans Hals, who is considered a master of the Golden Age of Dutch Baroque painting, they belonged to the same artists’ guild in Haarlem. In fact, Judith successfully sued Frans Hals when he stole a few of her students away from her.

For centuries after her death, her entire body of work was frequently attributed to Frans Hals. Why? Because who could fathom another artist being just as good (if not better!) than the great Frans Hals?! And it definitely wouldn’t be one of those lady painters, right?

One of the ways in which women artists were “erased” from art history is pretty diabolical and it happened to Judith. Sometimes, gallerists, scholars or art critics – or anyone who wanted to make a buck – would paint out the signature of the lesser-known woman artist and paint in the signature of a more famous male artist. With the name of a famous male artist attached to the painting, the schemers could sell the artwork for a higher price and make more money.

Interesting that the quality of the artwork or the technical skill or the creative talent wasn’t the issue, just the name of the artist. Thankfully, Judith Leyster is finally getting the recognition – and the auction prices – she deserved all those centuries ago.

Check out this fascinating article about the recent sale of one of her paintings and how it exceeded expectations by almost 200%! Also, pay close attention to the bit about how her signature was altered from a J.L. to an F. H.

F. H…. where have I heard those initials before???

To read the article on Judith Leyster’s recent auction sale, please visit…

https://news.artnet.com/market/judith-leyster-auction-record-2108724

Tentatively attributed to Judith Leyster, ca. 1629

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.