Portret van Etha Fles 1887

This is Jan Veth’s delicate etching of Etha Fles, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Veth was part of a cultural and intellectual elite in the Netherlands, one that actively promoted symbolism and art nouveau, philosophies that turned away from realism, and instead favored subjectivity. Etha Fles, like Veth, occupied a unique position in Dutch society. As one of the first women to study art history and become a museum director, Fles was a trailblazer in a male-dominated world. This portrait captures a sense of her intellectual intensity and quiet determination. Veth’s choice of the etching technique, with its fine lines and subtle gradations, lends an air of intimacy to the portrait, inviting us to consider the inner life of this remarkable woman. In a time when women were often relegated to the domestic sphere, Fles actively shaped the cultural landscape. Consider the importance of recording the likeness of a woman who defied societal expectations and paved the way for future generations of female art historians and museum professionals.