CONCOURS
JOIN THE COMPETITION!
PAINT THE OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF ELISABETH NEURDENBURG
The University of Groningen invites artists to participate in a special competition: the creation of the official portrait of Elisabeth Neurdenburg (1887–1957), the first female professor of art history in the Netherlands. The winning portrait will receive a permanent place in the Academy Building and will become part of the university’s portrait collection.
Participants are invited to submit a sketch design in the required format. Based on these sketches, the jury will select a winner who will be invited to execute the portrait according to the formal guidelines:
- the portrait must be a good likeness and at least life-size;
- Neurdenburg must be depicted wearing an academic gown with a white collar (bef) and bow tie, optionally accompanied by an academic cap;
- the final work must be executed in oil paint or another durable medium, on canvas or panel measuring approximately 70 × 55 cm (excluding the frame).
FOR ARTISTIC REFERENCE
Elisabeth Neurdenburg
Explore examples of professorial portraits from the Academy Building collection.
WHY ARE WE LAUNCHING THIS COMPETITION?
Neurdenburg, despite her expertise, dedication, and academic achievements, had to continually fight for recognition in a male-dominated academic environment. Her work played an important role in establishing art history as a university discipline in the Netherlands, yet her name is scarcely known today. Although some sources suggest that a portrait of her once existed, no such work has ever been found, and it is likely that this information was not based on an actual portrait.
To restore her visibility and honour her lasting contribution to the university, a new portrait will now be created for the Academy Building. With this competition, we invite artists to give Neurdenburg the place in the portrait gallery she has long deserved.
Archival research also shows that Neurdenburg was deeply committed to innovating art-historical education, developing new teaching methods, and supporting her students. For this reason, we particularly encourage early-career artists to participate in this competition.
BENEFITS
€3000 prize money for the winner, who will also be commissioned to execute the final portrait using this budget.
€500 for the second and third place finalists.
The possibility of having your sketch included in an exhibition on Neurdenburg, giving your work visibility to a wide and diverse audience.
A unique opportunity to contribute to the university’s history and to become part of a long-standing tradition of professorial portraiture.
SUBMIT YOUR SKETCH DESIGN!
We invite all participating artists to submit their sketch design for the portrait of Elisabeth Neurdenburg before 1 February 2026.
The physical sketch, at full size, can be delivered to Oude Boteringestraat 34 in Groningen in the following ways:
- Delivery to the concierge desk
A staff member will be present to receive submissions on:
Tuesday 27 January, until 4:30 PM
Wednesday 28 January, until 4:30 PM - Delivery to the secretariat (when the concierge is not present)
On weekdays between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM, submissions may also be delivered to the secretariat on the second floor:
Room 2.10. - Weekend closure
Please note that the building is closed on weekends. Physical submissions cannot be delivered on Saturdays or Sundays. - Late physical delivery (after online submission)
If you have submitted your entry online by 1 February, it is still possible to deliver your physical work to the secretariat from the 2nd February till the 6th of February.
As stated before, we ask you to send a digital copy of your sketch design and a short portfolio to neurdenburgportrait@gmail.com, or upload these through the submission form on this website. This allows the jury to review your work thoroughly and ensures that the material is included in the project documentation.
Please make sure your submission is complete — only then can it be considered in the selection process.
ABOUT US
We are the project team researching the life and work of Elisabeth Neurdenburg, the first female professor of art history at the University of Groningen. Using archival materials, student notes, and other sources, we are reconstructing her career, teaching practice, and significance within the university. The project will culminate in an exhibition and the creation of a new portrait, ensuring that Neurdenburg receives the visibility she deserves.
CONTACT
Project Neurdenburg
Oude Boteringestraat 34
9712 GK Groningen