Joanna Koerten

She achieved fame as a silhouette cutter, the art of creating outline images from pieces of cut paper mounted on a contrasting background.

Her clients included Peter the Great of Russia, Frederick Elector of Brandenburg, Johan de Witt and William III of England.

[1][2][3] She was the daughter of Jan Koerten (1622–1651), a Mennonite cloth merchant, and his wife Ytje Cardinaels, who was from a well-known and wealthy family in Amsterdam.

Among them are artists Gerard de Lairesse, Melchior Hondecoeter and Nicholas Verkolje; calligraphers Jacob Gadelle, and Mary Strick; and poets David van Hoogstraten [nl], John Brandt, Gesine Brit and Katharina Lescailje.

[2] Koerten's paper cutting technique imitates the high art characteristics of oil painting and sculpture of the 17th century.

Koerten's Frederik III shows linework depicting a deeper illusion of interior space in her use of linear perspective.

Textured stonework and shimmering fabrics are also shown in this work along with curved, sweeping cuts resembling the appearance of hair.