Queen Mathilde Opens Exhibition on Michaelina Wautier in Vienna
Queen Mathilde officially inaugurated the exhibition “Michaelina Wautier, Painter” at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna on Monday evening, alongside Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, reports 24brussels.
The exhibition highlights the work of Michaelina Wautier (1614/18-1689), a Belgian artist who remained largely overlooked for centuries but is now recognized as a significant figure in 17th-century painting. Wautier has drawn comparisons to renowned Baroque masters such as Rubens and van Dyck.
Prior to the exhibition, Queen Mathilde visited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. As an advocate for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, her visit emphasized the importance of empowering youth and engaging them in addressing issues related to health, drugs, and crime. Discussions during the visit included the cooperation between UNODC and Belgium, with National Drugs Commissioner Ine Van Wymersch also in attendance.
The exhibition is part of a broader cultural initiative to promote the contributions of historic female artists and is expected to draw significant public interest in Vienna.
