Irene Andessner

IRENE ANDESSNER (Salzburg, Austria, 1954).
“Barbara Strozzi,” from the series “Donne Illustri,” 2003.
C-print on high-gloss paper, edition 5/30.
Signed, titled, and dated on the reverse.
Measurements: 54.5 × 42.5 cm (image); 68 × 54 cm (paper).

“Barbara Strozzi” is part of one of Irene Andessner’s most significant projects, focused on reclaiming the memory of women whose historical significance had been sidelined by official narratives. The “Donne Illustri” series was conceived in 2003 for the Caffè Florian in Venice, where the artist juxtaposed the so-called Sala degli Uomini Illustri with portraits of ten prominent Venetian women, symbolically transforming it into a hall of illustrious women.

Andessner portrays herself as Barbara Strozzi, a Venetian singer and composer who distinguished herself through the publication of eight musical collections and her contributions to the cantata and secular vocal music of the 17th century. The artist avoids, however, a literal historical reconstruction: the Baroque-inspired blouse is paired with leather pants, metal belts, and an electric guitar, bringing the composer’s creative independence and professional identity into the present.

The figure appears within a structure resembling a display case or stage, surrounded by numerous light sources, musical instruments, and props. This setup makes the process of constructing the portrait visible and underscores its nature as a tableau vivant, while the frontal composition and direct gaze transform the image into a conscious affirmation of authorship and feminine presence.

Irene Andessner trained at the academies of fine arts in Venice and Vienna, where she studied with Emilio Vedova, Max Weiler, and Arnulf Rainer. Since the late 1980s, she has placed the self-portrait at the center of her practice, later expanding it through photography, video, performance, and reenactments of historical figures. Her work has been exhibited at institutions such as the Lentos Kunstmuseum in Linz, the Kunst Haus Wien, the Kunsthalle Krems, and the Museum der Moderne in Salzburg.