Suze Robertson (1855-1922) was an autonomous painter and draughtswoman who even caused a sensation while still in training: she insisted on being allowed to paint after the nude, which was forbidden for women at the time.

This behaviour was typical of Robertson. She was an independently minded artist who always forged her own path, which made it difficult to pigeonhole her. While some were critical of her work because it did not exude the femininity expected of a woman artist, others admired her approach and richly experimental techniques. She worked in a variety of genres using innovative techniques and materials such as thick layers of impasto paint and gold leaf. Today her strong-willed and independent character is more appreciated than ever.