Her mother was especially opposed to her wishes,[2] but persistence eventually won over her father and, in 1876, she was allowed to study with Pfyffer, so she would be close to home.

Johanna and her husband agreed to let her live with them there, and she found a place as a student in a special women's class given by Karl Gussow.

[3] After 1890, she moved to Frankfurt to be with her partner, Elisabeth Winterhalter; although she travelled widely (including a trip to Africa in 1913).

Amongst her models was Gwen John who was intrigued that Roederstein wore a shirt, jacket and a fob watch.

[4] That same year Roederstein and her partner helped to create the Schillerschule [de], Frankfurt's first school for girls.