Parallel to studying librarianship (diploma in 1964), she read art history, archeology and ethnology at Hamburg and Munich, where in 1973 she obtained her PhD with a dissertation about the Dutch ornament in the lobate-style[permanent dead link‍] (‚kwab’) of the baroque period, investigated with reference to the works of the family of silversmiths van Vianen and Lutma.

From 1971 onwards, she began writing art reviews and essays for the Süddeutsche Zeitung as well as for international journals.

She has worked as part of the editorial teams of Museumjournaal, Vrij Nederland, Kunstschrift OKB, Wonen TABK, Archis and the Wallraf-Richartz Jahrbuch.

She went on to lecture in modern art history at the University of Amsterdam (1977–1989), and was visiting professor at the Rijksuniversity Groningen and the Academy in Hamburg.

Furthermore, she functioned as a member of the board for Stichting de Appel in Amsterdam, for the Academy of Art in Arnhem, for Stichting Stamina in Amsterdam, as chairwoman of the board of the Art Collection of Groningen and as the president of the Dutch section of the AICA.