Rijksmuseum Launches Research Program on Women in Its Collection

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has launched the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund, a multi-year research program aimed at investigating female artists and the representation of women in the museum's collection. The initiative seeks to achieve a more equitable presence of female artists and subjects in exhibitions. Hendrikje Crebolder, Director of Development & Media, stated that women's roles in art and history have been underestimated and that the fund will help correct distorted perceptions. The program is chaired by senior curator Jenny Reynaerts, who noted that while the museum has identified female artists in paintings and sculptures, it still needs to do so for hundreds of thousands of works on paper and craft objects. The research will also examine the collection's origins to identify female collectors and benefactors. Recently, the Rijksmuseum restored a painting by Catharina van Hemessen, one of the earliest known female painters, for its permanent display. It also acquired new works, including a self-portrait by Charley Toorop (1933) and a bronze chess set by Saar de Swart (1923-25). The exhibition 'Female Power' at Rijksmuseum Schiphol, running until November 22, 2022, highlights strong women in history such as Judith and Rachel Ruysch.