Judith Leyster, Boy Playing a Flute, c. 1635, oil on canvas, 28.7
Judith Leyster
Painter, Dutch Golden Age
Judith Leyster, born July 28th, 1609 in Haarlem, was one of the few successful women artists working prior to the 20th century. She was the first female member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke. Leyster had a busy workshop with students and enjoyed great success from 1629 until she married in 1635 and had five children. She was well known during her lifetime, but forgotten after her death until a Louvre museum official discovered her monogram underneath a false signature that read, “Frans Hals.”
Leyster excelled at creating genre scenes, or images of subjects from everyday life. In this charming painting, a boy sits on a broken chair and plays a flute. On the wall behind him appear a recorder and violin – nicer instruments that perhaps indicate the boy’s aspirations, musical and social. This painting is noted for the beautifully rendered shadows on the wall.
Leyster died on February 10th, 1660 at the age of 50.
