How have women impacted on Dutch history, and to what extent is their legacy visible in the Rijksmuseum collection? These are the overarching questions explored by the research programme and related activities of the Women of the Rijksmuseum working group. This project started in 2021 and will run until 2026.
Rijksmuseum
Aagje Deken and Betje Wolff were two Dutch writers and poets who lived during the 18th century. They are best known for their collaboration on the epistolary novel called “Sara Burgerhart,” which was published in 1782. Aagje Deken was born in 1741 and Betje Wolff was born in 1738.
Aagje Deken and Betje Wolff’s work was groundbreaking for its time, as it introduced realistic characters and social commentary. Their novel “Sara Burgerhart” focuses on the experiences of a young woman in Dutch society and explores themes such as love, marriage, and societal expectations.
Deken and Wolff’s writing was considered controversial due to its criticism of traditional gender roles and societal norms. They played a significant role in the development of Dutch literature and are recognized as important figures in the Enlightenment movement. Their works continue to be studied and appreciated for their literary value and contribution to Dutch cultural history.
Aagje Deken’s life was marked by various experiences and achievements. After the death of her parents in 1745, she resided in the “Oranje Appel” orphanage in Amsterdam until 1767. Upon leaving the orphanage, she worked in different households and eventually ventured into business, specializing in coffee and tea. In 1769, she joined the Baptist community in Amsterdam, embracing a religious path.
At the age of 29, Deken became a nurse for Mrs. Maria Bosch, and they developed a close relationship. However, Bosch passed away in 1773. In 1775, Deken published a collection of poems titled “Stichtelijke gedichten,” which she had written in collaboration with Maria Bosch.
The pivotal moment in Deken’s life came about in 1776 when she initiated a correspondence with Betje Wolff. At that time, Wolff had already established herself as an accomplished writer. They met in person for the first time in October of that year. Following the death of Wolff’s husband, the two women began living together as companions. In September 1777, they published their first joint work titled “Brieven” (“Letters”). Their collaboration continued to flourish, and in 1781, they gained widespread acclaim with the publication of their highly successful novel “Sara Burgerhart.”
Aagje Deken’s contribution to the plot of “Sara Burgerhart” was drawing from her own experiences as a girl who grew up in an orphanage and worked in domestic service. These experiences influenced the portrayal of the protagonist, Sara, and added depth and authenticity to the novel.
Through Sara’s character, Deken sheds light on the challenges and realities faced by young women in Dutch society during that time. The novel explores themes such as social class, love, marriage, and the expectations placed upon women. The portrayal of Sara’s journey reflects Deken’s understanding of the complexities of social dynamics and the impact they have on personal growth and choices.
By incorporating her own background into the plot, Aagje Deken contributed to the authenticity and realism of “Sara Burgerhart,” making it a significant work in Dutch literature that continues to be studied and appreciated for its insightful portrayal of women’s lives.
The Artist – David Wolff
David Wolff, a prominent glass engraver (not related to Betje Wolff) in the 18th century Netherlands, played a significant role in elevating the technique of diamond-point engraving. He specialized in creating exquisite portraits on glasses, showcasing his mastery in this art form.
Wolff’s innovative approach involved utilizing the stippling engraving technique, which involved tapping the diamond point into the glass to create minute dots. This method differed from the traditional scratching technique used in conventional diamond engraving, where images and letters are cut into the glass. The stippling technique resulted in a pointillistic effect, with varying densities of dots creating a nuanced representation of light and shadow.
By employing this meticulous technique, Wolff achieved striking renditions of portraits on glasses. The intricate placement of dots allowed for the precise rendering of details, capturing the likeness and character of the subjects. His innovative use of stippling engraving brought about a unique visual quality, showcasing a sophisticated play of light and shadow in his glass engravings.
ChasingART 
Fascinating! Will be on the lookout for these glasswares when I visit the Rijksmuseum in the future. One doesn’t hear very much about collaborative writing projects, so I’m especially intrigued by Aagje Deken’s efforts in this. The prevalent concept of writing as taught in the European tradition is that it is a solitary labor practiced in seclusion, even though literature and art has never truly been an isolated performance.
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I was amazed when I first heard about Aagje and Betje’s collaboration. Even now, we view writing as solitary but, as you said, literature and art has always enjoyed synergistic outcomes when there was a shared experience. Thank you for your visit and I look forward to more conversations in 2024. I am very interested in the call/response that occurs when we read/listen/respond to another’s ideas and thoughts. Exiting things happen!
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Terrific to read about these 2 women, Rebecca.
I’m finding out more and more about many woman who contributed to the arts in times when women were terribly marginalized. I’m finding out about most of them here on Chasing Art.
Thank you so much!
David Wolff sure had a beautiful touch & talent to be able to make the engravings of the 2 women.
I got panicky when that woman took one of the glasses out of the display.
I’m a vicious jinx with china and glass, even sturdy pottery.
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Your comments reminded me of a poster by “Guerrilla Girls” at the Tate, that stated that less that 5% of the artists in the Modern Art Sections are women, but 85% of the nudes are female.” I think you will enjoy this Tate article: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/guerrilla-girls-do-women-have-to-be-naked-to-get-into-the-met-museum-p78793
P.S. I held my breath when they were handling the glasses. YIKES!!
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I’ll head over and check out that article!
Yes! YIKES!
(I sent the drawing that I forgot to attach)
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Hi Rebecca, thank you for sharing this interesting post. I did not know about these two women and the history is fascinating.
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Thank you for joining me virtually at the Rijks, Robbie! I had never heard of Aagje and Betje before I came upon this short video. I had so much fun discovering more about their work and legacy. This year, I want to delve more deeply into the back stories. I looked back at my first posts and realized how much I had learned over the years. Blogging helps to connect to others, but I think that the greatest benefit for me was that blogging helped me to connect to myself.
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Hi Rebecca, I understand perfectly. I have also grown a great deal as a person through my blogs. Ps, there are new pictures in my art gallery 💞
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I love visiting your art gallery and YouTube Channel, Robbie!
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I’m glad you enjoy them, Rebecca. I have a lot of videos still to upload.
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How fascinating Rebecca. Love the Rijks and this is so interesting! ✴.·´¯`·.·★ ꔠʌƿƿႸ Ꞑᶒພ 𐍅ᶒʌ໗ ★·.·`¯´·.✴
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The video is fascinating! You’re finding all kinds of cultural gems to share!!
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I am delighted that you joined me at the Rijksmusuem, Liz. They have amazing videos that provide a vast amount of knowledge in a short time frame. They understand the concept of, “less is more.” I’m looking forward to exploring more art in 2024. I love having your company along the way.
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Producing these short videos and putting them up on the internet for anyone to learn from and enjoy is such a wonderful thing for museums to do.
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I never thought about glass engraving in this way. What an art form. There is always more to learn. Happy New Year, Rebecca. xx
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Fascinating post, Rebecca! I wasn’t familiar with these two pioneering women writers and their groundbreaking book. Thank you for the information!
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I have never heard of these writers before either, Dave. When I first started ChasingART, I thought to become familiar with paintings so that I could identify the artist behind the art work. I would use my daily art calendar as a guide. Little did I know that this strategy would only skim the upper layer and not provide the backstory which is essential to understand the art work. Learning an artist’s name is a great stepping stone, but there much more to discover. Following art galleries and museums have been an invaluable source of information. I have discovered that we cannot isolate creativity which flows from form to form. Consider that it was a glass engraver – David Wolff – who commemorated Aagje and Betje.
There is so much for yet to learn. And that gives me great comfort. I continue to learn and learn and learn.
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