"Still Life: Basket with Fruit on a Table," Ottilie W. Roederstein, 1909.

I've written about Roederstein before; she was a Swiss/German painter, mainly portraits, and was the partner of Elisabeth Winterhalter, a pioneering doctor. (I've featured a number of queer artists this week, purely by chance.)

This still life may have been done as an exercise; it's not her usual thing. It's appropriate for late summer, with the apples and pears, but also a nice juxtaposition of colors. Still lifes can be bland, but here she has colors meeting each other while not being overwhelming. A very nice work.

Roederstein was fairly famous in her day as a portrait painter, but is largely forgotten today and deserves rediscovery. Look for her self-portrait with a hat; I love that painting.

From the Städel, Frankfurt.

#Art #StillLife #AcademicArt #OttilieRoederstein #WomenArtists #LBGTQArt #QueerHistory

"Portrait of Dr. Elisabeth Winterhalter," Ottilie W. Roederstein, 1887-88.

Born in Zurich, Roederstein (1859-1937) became interested in art at an early age, which horrified her conventional parents, but they eventually allowed her to study with a local artist. It became obvious she was hugely talented, & her married sister, who lived in Berlin, took her in so she could continue her studies. By 1882 she had her first exhibition, & in 1887 was totally self-supporting as an artist. She continued to exhibit & traveled widely until 1931, when she retired.

The subject of this charming portrait is Dr. Elisabeth Winterhalter (1856-1952), Germany's first woman doctor, & also Roederstein's partner. She also defied her family by going to study medicine in Zurich, where she and Roederstein met & fell in love. Elisabeth returned to Germany where she practiced obstetrics & gynecology, but didn't receive a full medical license until 1902, when German law was changed to allow women doctors.

The Third Reich largely ignored them; by then both were retired & living quietly. Elisabeth was honored by West German president Heuss for her contributions to the medical field shortly before her death at 95. She & Ottilie are buried together.

From the Städel Museum, Frankfurt.

#Art #WomenArtists #QueerHistory #OttilieRoederstein