Gezicht op de Alpen c. 1888 - 1901

Anna Catharina Maria van Eeghen created this watercolor painting, titled "View of the Alps", during a time when women artists were gaining more recognition, yet still faced significant barriers. Born in 1878 into a wealthy Dutch family, Van Eeghen was part of a generation that navigated the complexities of gender and class expectations while pursuing their artistic passions. This landscape offers a glimpse into the cultural fascination with nature and the sublime. It's hard not to wonder about Van Eeghen’s emotional response to the Alpine scenery. Were these majestic landscapes a source of empowerment, an escape from societal constraints, or a way to connect with the natural world on her own terms? Van Eeghen's work invites us to reflect on the experiences of women artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and to consider the ways in which their perspectives shaped their art. It challenges us to expand our understanding of art history.