Jonathan Grossmalerman discovers 17th-century ancestor Johannes de Grootschildermanneke, painter of explicit works

In May 2016, Jonathan Grossmalerman, an artist, shared an intriguing narrative in ArtReview regarding a remarkable manuscript he came across. This 1623 Dutch text, titled "Atelier Van Schande," chronicles the life of Johannes de Grootschildermanneke, a painter from Delft who was a contemporary of Vermeer. Renowned for his lifelike still lifes, he transitioned in 1621 to creating large-scale depictions of vaginas, which gained popularity among the merchant class and royalty. Historical records indicate that the Delft city council arrested him for not paying a mule tax, leading to a death sentence that was later commuted to prevent flaying. The manuscript was sent by a person claiming to be Grossmalerman's "great uncle," Jaap de Grootschildermanneke. Grossmalerman regards de Grootschildermanneke as a symbol of artistic freedom, connecting his contributions to the beginnings of Modernism.