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1555
The Game of Chess by Sofonisba Anguissola
Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian painter and one of the first well-known women artists in Europe. This painting shows three of her younger sisters playing chess while a woman watches. The painting feels natural and relaxed, not stiff or overly posed like in many other paintings from that time. Anguissola painted this to show that women could be intelligent, playful, and worthy of attention. I selected this artwork because the sisterly bond and competition reminded me of my sisters. -
The Concert by Judith Leyster
Judith Leyster was a Dutch Golden Age painter. The Concert shows three musicians, two men playing instruments and a woman singing, seated close together, smiling and clearly enjoying each other’s company. The scene feels lively and warm, and Leyster paints the figures with realistic lighting and detail, especially in their facial expressions and clothing. I selected this painting because the joy on each individual's face is timeless.