Mathilde J. de Cordoba (1871–1942) was a prominent American painter and printmaker, celebrated for her portraiture and her contributions to the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) federal art projects.Queer Places:
Art Students League of New York, 215 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
The Woman's Art Club, 9 W 10th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
Mathilde J. de Cordoba (1871–1942) was a prominent American painter and printmaker, celebrated for her portraiture and her contributions to the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) federal art projects.
Mathilde de Cordoba was born in New York City, to a father of Cuban descent, Pedro Isidro de Cordoba, and a mother of French heritage, Matilda Josephine Bienbar; her brother, Pedro de Cordoba, became a well-known stage and screen actor. The family actively fostered an interest in the arts, exposing them to both visual and performance art from an early age.
She studied under notable instructors, including Kenyon Cox at the Art Students League and William Merritt Chase at the Shinnecock Summer School.
Biographical snippets indicate that during her early career, she lived with the "Coupers" while studying at the Art Students League of New York. Considering that Mathilde was a close friend of Josephine Sibley Couper, who was also a student of William Merritt Chase at the Art Students League, it's likely they are referring to her. Josephine Sibley Couper was married to Butler King Couper (1851–1913).
During her time as an active student and young professional in New York, she was part of an artistic community that frequented locations such as The Woman's Art Club.
Between 1908 and 1913, she lived and exhibited in Europe. She gained an international reputation for her work, holding a solo exhibition in 1910 at the Dowdeswell Gallery in London. Her work was acquired by institutions such as the New York Public Library and the French government.
At the height of her early success, she suffered partial blindness—a condition potentially linked to prolonged exposure to the acids and chemicals used in her etching work. Although an operation eventually restored her sight, her career momentum had significantly stalled by the time she was able to return to her craft.
Despite these hardships, she remained dedicated to her work. From the 1930s until her death in 1942, she participated in the WPA's Federal Art Project as a printmaker.
De Cordoba was best known for her intimate portraits, particularly of children. Her work is held in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. She was also an active member of various artistic organizations, including the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors and the New York Water Color Club.
Mathilde de Cordoba was the aunt of Mercedes Matter (born Mercedes Carles, 1913–2001), the noted painter, teacher, and founder of the New York Studio School. It is widely documented in biographical accounts of the Matter/Carles family that Mathilde de Cordoba played a pivotal role in supporting her niece’s early development, providing the financial means for Mercedes to pursue her formal art education.
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