Henriëtte Ronner-Knip (1821 - 1909)
It was her father Joseph who encouraged Henriëtte to paint at a young age. In his early years, Joseph decorated walls in gentry's houses and painted wallpapers for a living. His passion for painting landscapes grew with each day and he decided to dedicate his life to this craft. He would travel extensively with his wife and children, painting the countryside in France as well as the south of Holland. It is no wonder that both Henriëtte and her brother would follow in their father's footsteps. On her 13th birthday, Henriëtte received her first lessons in art and of course her first easel - the beginning to a successful career. The young student was eager and would often paint scenes in-and-around the house. Although her father did not mind, he believed that she would be more accomplished as an artist if she painted landscapes and historical scenes, themes which were popular at the time. Henriëtte felt differently.
Landscapes, Cats and Dogs
Life in the countryside enabled Henriëtte to focus her work on her favorite subjects: landscapes and animals. During her life nature would play an important role in her work. Art historians therefore distinguish three main periods in her work. The first period dates from her time in Vlucht, Beek and Berlich, when the focus of her work lay on landscapes, a theme which had become very popular during the industrial revolution. Around 1850, Henriëtte married Feico Ronner and moved to Brussels. From this moment on, Henriëtte paid more attention to stray dogs in Brussels than to landscapes. Portraying dogs pulling their carts in the streets of the Flemish city would become her favorite theme and trademark. She was soon recognized as the painter of dogs. Even the Duchess of Vlaanderen and the Belgian Queen would sit for her with their dogs. Around 1870, the third and final period begins: the time of cats.
A Cat with the Right Connections
The 19th century was a period of rehabilitation for the cat. The animal rose in status and was considered to have a touch of class among the furry creatures in the animal kingdom. Special shows were held where the gentry would stroll past the animals, sitting on their satin pillows, to admire them. Henriëtte would use this latest fad to her advantage. She painted hundreds of cats in different postures, from kittens and tom cats playfully bouncing on the piano keys, to little kittens purring beside their mother. Henriëtte's cats never looked like strays; her animals were cute and cuddly.
Salon d'art.
During her life and after her death, Henriëtte's work remained appealing to a broad audience. Critics, however, deemed her art too conventional, too middle class. Some believed that she should broaden her horizons and try different subject matters. Although we can not consider her a leader in the "avant garde" movement, we must not forget the time, place and social norms that Henriëtte worked in. Indeed, to be a painter in the 19th century - especially as a woman - was very demanding. Men were considered to be the real movers and shakers in the art world. Although Ronner was not a shaker in her time, we can certainly admire her: she was one of the few woman who was able to support her family from her work.
