Art is the Solution

Flowers in a Glass Vase Source: Detroit Institute of Arts The prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age gave many artists from the Netherlands the chance to flourish. Economic growth in the Netherlands fueled a desire for art and other luxury items, giving rise to an explosion of artistic production. Female painters were among those to benefit. Although painting has traditionally been seen as an inappropriate profession for a woman in the Western world, Dutch female artists were often able to circumvent this social taboo by focusing on still-lifes, a subject deemed acceptable to women. Still-life paintings also experienced a rise in popularity during the Golden Age, creating an ideal environment for the female artists of the time. Rachel Ruysch was one such artist. Ruysch is one of the most successful female painters in the history of Western art. She painted for over six decades and enjoyed critical acclaim and financial success throughout her life. Ruysch’s artistic specialty was flower...