Katherine Van Hemessen Paintings

Catharina van Hemessen was a Flemish Renaissance painter born in 1528 in Antwerp, which was then part of the Habsburg Netherlands. She was one of the earliest female Flemish artists to be recognized for her own merit. Catharina was the daughter of Jan Sanders van Hemessen, a prominent Mannerist painter who had a significant influence on her artistic training and career.

Catharina van Hemessen is best known for her portrait work, which is characterized by a meticulous attention to detail and a delicate handling of her subjects. Her portraits are often small in scale, but they are notable for their psychological insight and the sitter's direct gaze, which engages the viewer. In addition to portraits, she also painted religious themes, though these works are less well-documented.

Her most famous painting is a self-portrait dated 1548, which is often considered the first self-portrait of an artist at work at the easel. This painting is significant not only because it was created by a woman in the 16th century but also because it provides insight into the practice of painting at that time. The self-portrait is currently held in the Öffentliche Kunstsammlung in Basel.

Van Hemessen's works were well-received during her lifetime, and she was a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp. She married Christian de Morien, an organist at the Antwerp Cathedral, which may have influenced her decision to stop painting later in life. The details of her life after her marriage are somewhat obscure, but it is believed that she moved to Spain with her husband in the latter part of her life. Catharina van Hemessen died in 1587. Her work has been reassessed and celebrated in recent times for its contribution to the early modern period and for her role as a pioneer among female artists.