The Allard Pierson: museum and knowledge institute for the heritage collections of the University of Amsterdam, is the first museum in the Netherlands to dedicate an exhibition to the fascination for women in Art Nouveau. Around 1900, women are the dream and nightmare of a generation of artists trying to escape reality. Lovely virgins, cruel mistresses, devout Madonnas and other clichés define Aubrey Beardsley's book illustrations, René Lalique's jewellery, Alphonse Mucha's posters and many other works by renowned designers.

The museums overview include drawings, paintings, jewellery, glass, ceramics, textiles and ironwork from the collections of the Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe, numerous Dutch museums and private collectors. For book bindings, book illustrations, posters and feminist literature, Allard Pierson mainly draws on its own extensive paper collections. A separate room is dedicated to female painters, photographers, ceramists and textile artists working within Art Nouveau. The museum also shows film images of the revolutionary Serpentine Dance by Loïe Fuller, the dancer who inspired many at the time.

Art historian Carien Kanters shows us, with this exhibition in lead, that behind these mythical creatures often hides a deeper meaning.

• The exhibition Goddesses of Art Nouveau can be seen from December 2020 until March 21st 2021 at the Allard Pierson in Amsterdam.
• Please note: this activity takes place in the museum. Entrance fee to the museum and any surcharges are not included. Discount on entrance with Museumkaart.
• The Allard Pierson works with time slots, you must have an online ticket to attend the lecture. For further information, see the Allard Pierson website.
• Order the exhibition catalog in our Bookshop now.