Dollhouses in History
From Egyptian tomb models to Dutch “baby houses,” discover the long history behind dollhouses with miniaturist and longtime Barnes Foundation staff member Julie Steiner.
Dollhouses in Art History
November 15, 10 am
From ancient Egyptian tomb models to 17th-century Dutch “baby houses,” the instinct to create miniature dioramas of everyday life is as old as time. This program by writer, practicing miniaturist and longtime Barnes Foundation staff member Julie Steiner looks at the way artists from around the world and throughout history have gathered and sorted domestic scenes into house-shaped “collection boxes.” The group will examine the traditions that prefigure the dollhouses in the Kemerer’s collection, and see if that context changes interpretations of what they see on view while looking at the houses.
About Julie Steiner
Julie Steiner is a museum professional, writer, speaker, and practicing miniaturist. She earned her degree in art from Smith College and studied art history at the Sorbonne in Paris.
A longtime member of the Barnes Foundation staff, Steiner has worked in museums in education, curatorial, and operations departments. She is the author of A Short Biography of Paul Cézanne and Birds in the Barnes Foundation and is an Artisan with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. She shares her miniature-making on Instagram under the name @ridiculoustinythings.
