On Saturday, March 8, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Museum Gouda presents “Unheard – Women in the Collection.” Six centuries of history through the eyes of 30 women from the collection. From the daring Countess Jacoba of Bavaria and the pioneering calligrapher Maria Strick, to the influential artist Charley Toorop, glass engraver Johanna Breebaart who used her talents for the 19th-century women’s rights movement, and the contemporary Gouda artist Rkia Majourhate. The museum is open free of charge on this special day.
To mark International Women’s Day, a varied program will take place on March 8 that ties in with the exhibition’s themes. Curator Jorien Soepboer, who curated the exhibition, will provide deeper insight into her research on the women from the Museum Gouda collection during a speed tour. Spoken word artist Asmae Amaddaou amplifies women’s voices with a powerful performance, while Laurens Moreno, as a descendant of Constance and Péronne Arntzenius, brings the rich legacy of these women to life with live music:
11:30 a.m. + 12:30 p.m. – Speed tour guided by curator Jorien Soepboer
1:00 PM + 2:00 PM – Spoken word by Asmae Amaddaou
1:30 p.m. + 2:30 p.m. –Live music by Laurens Moreno
Constance and Péronne Arntzenius – a free-spirited duo
One of the standout stories in the exhibition is that of the sisters Constance and Péronne Arntzenius. Between the two world wars, they charted their own course entirely. Starting in the 1910s, the sisters traveled through the United States, Canada, and Mexico as a sort of backpackers avant la lettre. They earned their living through singing, photography, and film, thereby creating their own artistic and cultural legacy. Their daring lifestyle symbolizes uninhibited freedom: they took the liberty to do what they wanted, something that was anything but a given in their time. The exhibition features photographs from their travels, which highlight their independence and thirst for freedom.
Resilience
“Unheard – Collected Women” takes visitors on a journey through the multifaceted and influential roles women have played throughout the centuries. From groundbreaking artists and scientists to passionate social activists and enterprising pioneers: the exhibition highlights the undeniable impact of women on history. The stories illustrate how women, despite the obstacles imposed upon them, not only left their mark on society but repeatedly forged their own paths, generation after generation.
With thanks to
Research into the women in the Museum Gouda collection was made possible thanks to the Curators’ Grant from the Cultuurfonds. This enabled curator Jorien Soepboer to investigate the hidden stories of women in the collection and make them accessible to a wider audience.
Posted on 26 February 2025
