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Ottilie Roederstein Paintings: The 10 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 10 works by Ottilie Roederstein in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Ottilie Roederstein's most famous painting is Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio (1887), whose original hangs in the Städel Museum, Frankfurt. Self-Portrait with a Hat (1904) and Le Mois de Marie (1905) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 10 works by Ottilie Roederstein in our catalog, the gallery presents the 10 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
1859 – 1937, Zurich
Most works: Städel Museum
The gallery's top 10 Ottilie Roederstein paintings
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Old Man with Pipe
Old Man with Pipe is an oil on canvas painting by the artist Ottilie Roederstein. This work measures 16 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (41 x 32.7 cm). The piece was created about 1898.
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Albert Clifford Barney
This oil on canvas portrait depicts Albert Clifford Barney, a male subject presented in a waist-length composition. The work was executed by the German-Swiss painter Ottilie Wilhelmina Roederstein about 1900. The subject is positioned centrally, facing the viewer with a steady gaze. He is dressed in a heavy, dark coat featuring a thick fur trim and a white formal shirt visible at the collar.
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The subjects that held Ottilie Roederstein's eye
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
Portrait 3 works
Man 2 works
The museums that keep Ottilie Roederstein's originals
The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Ottilie Roederstein | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Städel Museum |
Frankfurt | 5 | Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio, Self-Portrait with a Hat, Portrait of the Painter Jakob Nussbaum |
 Smithsonian American Art Museum |
Washington, D.C. | 2 | Old Man with Pipe, Albert Clifford Barney |
 Kunsthaus Zürich |
Zurich | 1 | Self-Portrait with Brushes |
Ottilie Roederstein, one signature painting per decade
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
1890s
Old Man with Pipe
Age 31 – 40
1 work this decade
Old Man with Pipe is an oil on canvas painting by the artist Ottilie Roederstein. This work measures 16 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (41 x 32.7 cm). The piece was created about 1898.
Ottilie Roederstein's paintings: the gallery answers
Which Ottilie Roederstein painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer
Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio (1887), Städel Museum, Frankfurt. Self-Portrait with a Hat (1904) and Le Mois de Marie (1905) come next.
How old was Ottilie Roederstein on completing Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio?Reveal the answer
28 years old: Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio dates from 1887, and Ottilie Roederstein was born in 1859.
Which are Ottilie Roederstein's top 10 paintings?Reveal the answer
Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio, Self-Portrait with a Hat, Le Mois de Marie, Their Daily Bread, Portrait of the Painter Jakob Nussbaum, Self-portrait with Folded Arms, Old Man with Pipe, Self-portrait with keys, Albert Clifford Barney and Self-Portrait with Brushes. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
How many works did Ottilie Roederstein create?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 10 works by Ottilie Roederstein, dated from 1887 to 1936.
Where do Ottilie Roederstein's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Städel Museum (Frankfurt), Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.) and Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich). The museum table above lists them all.
When did Ottilie Roederstein create the most famous paintings?Reveal the answer
In 1900s: 5 of the 10 works on this page were made then, Self-Portrait with a Hat among them.
Which are Ottilie Roederstein's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio (1887) and the latest Self-portrait with keys (1936).
Which subjects did Ottilie Roederstein return to most?Reveal the answer
Portrait (3) and Man (2), across the 10 works on this page.
Which medium did Ottilie Roederstein work in most?Reveal the answer
Oil On Canvas, for 3 of the 10 works on this page.
Which Ottilie Roederstein originals does the Städel Museum hold?Reveal the answer
Portrait of a Painter in a Parisian Studio, Self-Portrait with a Hat and Portrait of the Painter Jakob Nussbaum: the Städel Museum, Frankfurt holds 5 of the works on this page.
Ottilie Roederstein: the artist
A Pioneer of the Canvas: The Life and Legacy of Ottilie Roederstein
In the grand, often male-dominated tapestry of nineteenth-century European art, few threads shine with as much quiet resilience and technical brilliance as that of Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1859, Roederstein emerged during an era when the path for female artists was fraught with systemic barriers. Yet, through an unwavering dedication to her craft, she transcended these limitations to become a celebrated German-Swiss painter whose work continues to resonate with profound emotional depth and technical mastery. Her journey was not merely one of personal ambition, but a pioneering voyage that helped redefine the presence of women in the fine arts of Germany and Switzerland.
Roederstein’s artistic development was characterized by a sophisticated command of oil on canvas, a medium she utilized to explore the nuances of light, texture, and human character. Her style, often noted for its evocative nature, moved beyond simple representation to capture the psychological essence of her subjects. Whether through delicate portraiture or more complex figurative compositions, her brushwork possessed a unique ability to convey depth and nuance, inviting the viewer into a contemplative dialogue with the painted image. This mastery allowed her to navigate the transition between traditional academic styles and the burgeoning expressive movements of her time.
Personal Connections and Artistic Vision
The life of Roederstein was as rich and complex as the paintings she produced. Beyond the studio, her personal history played a significant role in shaping her worldview and artistic perspective. She shared a long-term, profound companionship with Elisabeth Winterhalter, a figure of great importance as one of the first female doctors in Germany. This relationship provided Roederstein with a stable emotional foundation and a connection to the progressive intellectual circles of her day. Such intimacy and support likely nurtured the introspective qualities found within her work, allowing her to approach portraiture with a level of empathy and insight that was rare among her contemporaries.
Her legacy is not only found in the pigments on canvas but in the historical significance of her role as a trailblazer. By establishing a successful professional career during a period of intense social transition, she served as a vital precursor for future generations of women artists. Her ability to command respect within the European art scene ensured that her voice—and the voices of those who followed—could be heard in the prestigious galleries and museums of Germany and Switzerland.
Preserving the Masterpiece
Today, the works of Ottilie Roederstein serve as a window into a bygone era of artistic refinement. While her paintings are held within various esteemed museum collections, such as the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Germany, her influence extends far beyond the gallery walls. For those seeking to connect with her enduring spirit, high-quality reproductions offer a way to bring her evocative mastery into the modern home.
The appreciation of her art involves recognizing several key elements of her contribution to history:
- Pioneering Spirit: Her status as one of the first women to achieve professional success in Germany and Switzerland.
- Technical Excellence: The profound depth and nuanced application of oil paint that defines her signature style.
- Historical Resonance: A life lived at the intersection of personal passion and social progress, reflected in her enduring portraits.
Through the careful preservation and reproduction of her works, the legacy of Roederstein remains vibrant, ensuring that her contribution to the history of European painting is never forgotten.