Portret van Orazio en Artemisia Gentileschi 1675 - 1679

This double portrait by Johann Georg Waldreich depicts the Italian Baroque painters Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi. Orazio, the father, was a successful artist, and Artemisia, the daughter, trained in his studio. Despite the paternal support, Artemisia’s journey was marked by gendered obstacles. Her artistic achievements occurred in a patriarchal society which made it difficult for women to be recognized as artists. Artemisia once said, “I will show you what a woman can do." This portrait captures the familial bond between the two artists, but the circumstances surrounding their relationship were complex. In 1611, Artemisia was raped by Agostino Tassi, a fellow painter in her father’s studio. The subsequent trial brought public scrutiny and personal trauma to Artemisia. Here, both father and daughter are captured in quiet contemplation. The image serves as a reminder of the intertwined nature of personal experience and artistic creation. It prompts us to consider how identity, gender, and societal expectations shape the legacy of an artist.