Amalie Rothschild
A well-known painter and sculptor, Amalie Rothschild discovered her penchant for drawing while still a young child. Born in 1916 to a German-Jewish family in Baltimore, Amalie graduated high school during the Depression and went on to study fashion illustration at art school because it seemed practical. After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, she worked as a fashion illustrator for several firms in Baltimore. Amalie married Randolph Rothschild in 1936 and began to explore fine art, which became her lifelong passion. She began as a painter, and although she became comfortable in a variety of media, Amalie gradually shifted her focus to sculpting. While working on her own pieces, she taught fine arts at Goucher College and other institutions in Baltimore and promoted the arts throughout the community. Her home studio allowed her to pursue her career and care for her two daughters, Amalie and Adrien, when they were small. An active, much recognized, and beloved member of the Baltimore arts community, Amalie Rothschild died on November 4, 2001.
Amalie talks about her family life and growing up in the suburbs of Baltimore. She describes the schools she attended and her decision to study art after high school. Amalie attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she studied fashion illustration, then did post-graduate work in New York. She eventually returned to Baltimore, where she worked at a department store, met her husband, and got married. Amalie discusses her Jewish identity, synagogue affiliation, rituals, and antisemitism. She recalls the early years of her marriage, studying fine arts, becoming a painter, and her art exhibitions, awards, and recognitions. Amalie had exhibitions in Tel Aviv, New York, and Baltimore. She explains her evolution as an artist, becoming more of an abstract artist and sculptor. Amalie raised her two daughters and continued to work as an artist from her home studio. She reflects on her work-life balance, motherhood, and how things have changed for women.
