A Light Of Her Own by Carrie Callaghan

Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. She was one of the first two women to be admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guild as it is not clear who was the first woman (some sources point to Sara van Baalbergen). “She was the only woman who attained master status and operated her own workshop in the city at that time. (…) The limited contemporary documentation on her life makes it difficult to know much about her training and career.”

“Judith likely studied in Frans de Grebber’s workshop – quite possibly because he had a daughter a few years older who also painted.” Therefore, the author invented the friendship between Judith and Maria.

The story starts with Judith being apprenticed at Frans de Grebber, where she is best friends with his daughter Maria. At the age of 24, she dreams about having her own workshop, working on her own commissions, but she cannot do this unless she is a member of the guild. She applies to be admitted to the artist’s guild as she dreams of being an accomplished artist. Her ambition leads her to gaining the title of the master, which allows her to host apprentices in her own studio, which is a potential source of income.

On the other hand, Maria under her father’s wing could have had an easier path to becoming an accomplished artist. But her heart is not in painting, but in devotion to God.

I was confused about Maria’s story. I understand the point of her devotion in a country where the faith is banned to reflect religious situation of the time period. But this didn’t enrich the story, rather made it confusing. The pages given to Maria in this book should have been used solely on Judith’s story.

Judith’s story in this book concentrates on her struggle of attaining the title and having her own workshop as a woman in a world controlled by men. Through her struggle, the author skillfully presents the rules of the Guild. Only in the epilogue, it is mentioned her marriage to Jan Miense Molenaer, an artist himself and their five children. This in any way does not undermine the story. The concentration of the story on the struggle is an excellent approach.

Release Date: 13 November 2018

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