The Life and Training of Paula Monjé
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Paula Monjé was the daughter of Hermann Monjé and Maria. Her artistic journey began through private instruction rather than at the Düsseldorf Academy, as she studied under Eduard von Gebhardt and Wilhelm Sohn. Seeking to expand her horizons, she traveled to Paris to study in the studio of Jean Baptiste Courtois. Her education and curiosity further led her on study trips to the Netherlands and Italy.
Monjé was an active member of several professional organizations, including the Allgemeine Deutsche Kunstgenossenschaft, the Verein der Düsseldorfer Künstlerinnen, and the Verein der Düsseldorfer Künstler zur gegenseitigen Unterstützung und Hülfe. She also held membership in the Malkasten Künstlerverein and the Verein der Berliner Künstlerinnen, where she was awarded a first prize in a competition in 1891.
Artistic Focus and Exhibitions
The works of Paula Monjé primarily focused on the genres of portraiture and genre painting. Her portfolio includes various subjects such as:
Throughout her career, she was represented at numerous exhibitions. Between 1878 and 1884, she participated in the Berlin Academy exhibitions in the Kunstbaracke, and in 1894, she exhibited at the International Art Exhibition in the Glaspalast in Munich. Her work was also regularly featured by Düsseldorf gallerists Eduard Schulte and Bismeyer & Kraus starting in the late 1870s.
