'I Am You' fictionalizes the story of a Dutch Golden Age painter and her maid

Maria Van Oosterweek, a Renowned 17th-Century Dutch Painter, Was Barred From Joining the All-male Painter's Guild

Maria van Oosterweek emerged as a world-renowned Dutch painter in the 17th century. Despite the fame she garnered for her artwork, which was sold throughout Europe, she faced the obstacle common to female artists of her era: she was never permitted to join the all-male guild of Dutch artists.

Famous for Paintings Sold Across Europe Despite Female Artist Obstacles

These professional organizations controlled the trade and offered significant benefits to their members. However, women were often excluded from these guilds, limiting their training and selling opportunities. Despite these barriers, Maria van Oosterweek made a name for herself with her still life paintings, known as vanitas. These artworks frequently served as a reminder of the transience of life and were highly sought after by merchants. The paintings often included symbolic items such as skulls to convey their deeper message.

Goetha-Peters: Painter and Collaborator in Maria's Workshop

Maria's Marital Status and Relationship With Goetha-Peters Unclear

Gerta, also known as Goetha-Peters, initially joined Maria van Oosterweek's workshop as ...

Victoria Redel delves into the lives of two artists from the Dutch Golden Age, Maria Van Oosterweek and Goetha-Peters, weaving a fictional tale of romance and artistic passion through meticulous research and creative interpretation.

Victoria Redell, Inspired by Maria Van Oosterweek in an Amsterdam Book, Researched Maria and Goetha-Peters

Victoria Redel stumbled upon Maria van Oosterweek's name mentioned as a forgotten artist whose works had been sold across Europe. This brief mention sparked Redel's curiosity, and she embarked on a journey to research both Maria and her companion Goetha-Peters, two unmarried women living together in an era when such an arrangement was highly unusual for women, let alone women painters.

Redell Fictionalizes Tale of two Unmarried Women

Through her research into Maria and Goetha-Peters, Redel came to believe it was plausible that the two women were lovers. Understanding the societal restraints and the taboos on homosexuality during the Dutch Golden Age, Redel found herself imagining a deeper connection between the two women.

In "I Am You", Redell Pairs Maria and Goetha-Peters Romantically, While Goetha Thrives As a Painter

In he ...

Victoria Redell's characters Maria and Goetha portray a romantic, intricate, and dynamic relationship that intertwines with their artistic pursuits.

Redell Depicts Maria and Goetha's Relationship As Intimate, Devoted, and Rivalrous

Redell paints a vivid image of the relationship between Maria and Goetha as one that evolves from close companionship to an evolving rivalry colored with jealousy.

Goetha's Skills Grow; a Power Struggle Emerges, With Maria Asserting Her Dominance as the Established Artist

Initially, we see an environment in which Goetha is deeply devoted, painting right next to Maria, to a point where she can feel Maria's breath on her neck—a metaphor for their closeness and possibly, Goetha's sense of being overshadowed. Goetha admires Maria and holds a profound belief in her greatness as an artist. Nonetheless, as Goetha's talent burgeons, a power dynamic takes a prominent place in their relationship. Maria responds to the shifting power balance with a measure of unkindness. Redell suggests that the complexities of navigating success as women painters—given the expectations and limitations of their time—add increasing strain and secrecy to both their personal and professional interactions.

17th-Century Dutch Painting in Maria and Goetha's Relationship

Redell explores the role of 17th-century Dutch painting to reflect Maria and Goetha's relationship dynamics.

Goetha's Paint Mixing Mirrors the ...

Redell delivers a thoughtful exploration of what ambition and companionship meant for women like Maria and Goetha, two female artists striving to make their mark in the male-dominated art world of 17th century Europe.

Redell Sought to Give Maria and Goetha the Complexity and Aliveness Usually Given to Male Painters

Determined to provide Maria and Goetha the depth and vigor often reserved for interpretations of ruthless male painters, Redell delves into the realm of what it meant to be a woman with ambition during the Dutch Golden Age. She pays particular attention to the range of challenges that female artists like Maria would face, such as the rigorous physicality involved in the making of paint—grinding substances derived from nature, an activity that demonstrates not only their creativity but also their resilience and determination.

Challenges and Constraints Faced by 17th Century Ambitious Women Artists In Europe

Beyond the act of creation, Redell also sheds light on the societal limitations imposed on women artists at that time. She explains how they were barred from joining the painter’s guild, directly affecting their recognition and professional growth. Furthermore, she points out the restrictions they faced in the subjects they were allowed to paint, with genres like still lifes being deemed appropriate, while other genres were effectively off-limits.

Redell Examined Complexities in Long-Term Female Relationships, Regardless of Intimacy

Redell's narrative weaves through the intricacies of Maria and Goetha's relationship, underscoring the universal themes of love, power, envy, and de ...