Saar de Swart

A portrait of Saar de Swart painted by George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923).

Elizabeth Sara Clasina de Swart (6 August 1861 – 12 August 1951), whose chosen name was 'Saar' de Swart, was a sculptor born to the Dutch painter Corstianus Hendrikus de Swart and his wife, Elisabeth Sara IJntema in Arnhem, Netherlands. She was not enrolled in local education but received tutelage from her mother and father in their respective careers. This was funded by the inheritance she collected after her mother's death. Like de Swart's partner, Witsen was also a painter and draftsmen. Here she frequented artist cafés and lent her support to installations. Her trips back to Amsterdam and her rejection of the painter Willem Karsen's love lead to toxic rumors of her sexuality being spread around her community. Due to financial problems, de Swart sold most of her collection and settled with van Kerckhoff in Capri. The couple lived in Capri, although separated, until de Swart's death in 1951.