Judith Leyster (1609–1660) is the most famous female painter of the Dutch Golden Age.
Unlike many contemporary female artists, who concentrated on meticulously painting true-to-life flowers and insects, she ventured into more ambitious figure-based projects.
Competing with Frans Hals, Leyster chose remarkably similar themes: portraits, children playing, dancing musicians and a drinking actor.
She is also known for her innovative and evocative night scenes, in which she experimented with the subtle effects of light and dark.
Judith Leyster | Two Children with a Cat, 1629