Hotspur🏳️🌈🇺🇦"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.
