Figure 1: Coptic Woman (Koptische Vrouw) by Charley Toorop, date unknown.
Charley Toorop, or Annie Caroline Pontifex Fernhout-Toorop (1891 – 1955), was a Dutch painter and lithographer. She is famous for her strong sense of realism and symbolism in art, particularly in female figures paintings.
Figure 3: Charley Toorop, Self-portrait, 1940.
I found the above piece of art by her, which is labelled “Koptische Vrouw (Coptic Woman)”. I don’t know its date, and it seems that it was published on cards from 1956. Does that work exist as a lithographic art in one of the Dutch galleries or museums? I hope my readers will help in answering this. The work I have found is on a postcard, and is black and white, and dates from 1956. The beautiful, strong figure of a black woman in the front is back grounded by knights on horses, which increases the feeling of strength and solidity which one gets by looking at the work.
I love it; however, the depicted woman does not strike me as Copt. It does not look like an Ethiopian, since some Europeans sometimes confuse Copts with the latter, as both follow the Coptic Church. Does any one of my readers have more information about this work? It will be great to know more about it!
