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
Subject & Meaning
The painting thus operates on two levels: as a record of the artist's appearance and as a self-conscious declaration of her authorship and creative agency.
The miniature depicts its maker, Henriette Wolters-van Pee, in a self-presenting image executed on ivory. As a self-portrait, the work functions simultaneously as a likeness and as a professional statement, with the artist presenting herself as the principal subject of her own composition. The choice of ivory support and the small scale of the piece align it with the conventions of the miniature portrait genre, a format historically associated with intimate, personal representations intended for close viewing.
By rendering herself rather than a patron or sitter, Wolters-van Pee asserts her identity as a practicing artist, a notable gesture for a woman working in the early eighteenth century. The painting thus operates on two levels: as a record of the artist's appearance and as a self-conscious declaration of her authorship and creative agency.
Technique & Style
The self-portrait is painted in ivory, a material commonly used for miniature portraits in the early 18th century. Measuring 6.8 cm in height and 5.5 cm in width, the work is executed on a small, delicate support that reflects the intimate scale of miniature painting. The handling is precise and refined, characteristic of the genre, with meticulous attention to detail in rendering facial features and attire.
Stylistically, the portrait adheres to the conventions of miniature portraiture of the period, emphasizing clarity and delicacy over broad painterly effects. The composition focuses closely on the sitter’s face, capturing subtle expressions with controlled brushwork and a restrained palette, typical of the restrained yet expressive approach found in ivory miniatures of this era.
History & Provenance
Henriette Wolters-van Pee's 1732 self-portrait on ivory is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is cataloged as a miniature painting depicting the artist herself. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the museum confirms the piece as part of its holdings.
The artwork has been recognized in digital catalogues as a significant example of the artist's work in the miniature genre.
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.
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.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Henriette Wolters-van Pee (1682–1741) was an artist, born in Amsterdam.
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