Anna Maria van Schurman: A Renaissance Woman Ahead of Her Time Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678) stands as a singular figure in Dutch Golden Age art and intellectual history—a woman who defied societal expectations to achieve remarkable success across multiple disciplines, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of her era. Born into a wealthy Cologne family, her early life was characterized by exceptional educational opportunities unavailable to most girls of noble birth. From the age of four, she received instruction in Latin and other subjects from her father, Frederik van S…