Anna Waser
A Swiss portraitist whose exceptional talent in her brief life challenged the rigid gender barriers of the early 18th-century art world.
1678–1714 (age 36)·Swiss artist·Birthday: October 16
Biography
In an era when women artists were rare and often relegated to still life, Anna Waser demanded to be seen as a portraitist. Born near Zurich in 1678, her precocious skill with a brush was evident as a child. By age 12, she was sent to Bern as a formal pupil of the Swiss painter Joseph Werner, an extraordinary opportunity for a girl. She quickly mastered miniature portraiture and etching, producing work of remarkable delicacy and psychological insight. Her reputation grew, leading to a prestigious commission to paint the likeness of the Dutch diplomat Johann van Leenhoff. Yet, the constraints of her time were relentless; family duties, particularly caring for her siblings after her mother's death, drastically curtailed her output. Waser's known body of work is small, a handful of self-portraits and miniatures, but each piece stands as a testament to a formidable talent that flickered brightly against the headwinds of convention before her death at just 36.
#1 When Anna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1678
Anna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1678Born
1683Started school
1691Became a teenager
1694Could drive
1696Could vote
1699Turned 21
1708Turned 30
1714Died at 36
Key Achievements
- Became a recognized portrait miniaturist and etcher, receiving commissions from prominent Swiss and Dutch figures.
- Studied under the noted painter Joseph Werner in Bern, a rare formal apprenticeship for a woman in the late 17th century.
- Her self-portrait, painted at the age of 16, remains a key work in the study of early modern women artists.
Did You Know?
One of her most famous works is a self-portrait miniature showing her at her easel, painted in 1694.
She was also a skilled musician, known to play the harpsichord.
Much of her known work is housed in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich.
“I will prove that a woman's hand can wield the brush with the same mastery as a man's.”
