Clara Peeters (Flemish, c. 1594–1640) was a pioneering Flemish painter active in the early 17th century, celebrated for her exquisite still-life compositions. Likely born in Antwerp, Peeters emerged as one of the few professional female artists of her time, specializing in detailed tabletop scenes that showcased her technical brilliance and keen eye for texture and light. Her works often featured luxurious arrangements of food, precious metals, and delicate glassware - subjects rendered with such precision they seem almost tangible.
Peeters is credited with helping to establish the still life genre in the region now known as the Netherlands, and her paintings are notable for their subtle symbolism and elegance. She frequently included self-reflective motifs, such as her likeness delicately reflected in a silver goblet or pewter lid, asserting both her identity and authorship in an era that offered few artistic opportunities to women. Though little is known about her personal life, Clara Peeters's legacy endures as a testament to her talent, innovation, and quiet defiance of the limitations placed upon women in the arts.
