Maria Elisabeth Georgina (Lizzy) Ansingh (Utrecht 1875 —1959 Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and daughter of a pharmacist. She was a member of the painting group known as the Amsterdam Joffers. She was the granddaughter of painter Johann Georg Schwartze and the niece of artist Thérèse Schwartze, from whom she received her first drawing lessons. She lived for sixteen years with this aunt, who encouraged her and introduced her to many prominent artists of the time, including French Impressionists and Dutch artists George Hendrik Breitner, Piet Mondriaan and Simon Maris. Her younger sister, Theresia (Sorella), was also a painter.
Between 1894 and 1897, she attended the Amsterdam Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (National Academy of Fine Arts), where she was taught by professors August Allebé, Nicolaas van der Waay, and Carel Dake. She and her classmates formed a close-knit collective of female artists. A journalist gave them the name Amsterdam Joffers, a title they proudly adopted as a badge of honor.
In addition to painting portraits, Ansingh became known for her paintings of dolls and scenes from her 18th-century cabinet dollhouse. She commented on this, saying: "Whatever you want to see in it, you can see in it." In 1906, she painted her first doll painting, followed by many others. The dollhouse she purchased in 1910 played a significant role in the creation of these fairytale paintings. She also wrote two books of poetry: 'n Vruchtenmandje (A Fruit Basket, 1927) and Tante Tor is jarig (Aunt Tor's Birthday, 1950). The books were illustrated by fellow Joffer Nelly Bodenheim.
Other Joffers included Marie van Regteren Altena, Coba Ritsema, Ans van den Berg, Jacoba Surie, Betsy Westendorp-Osieck, and Jo Bauer-Stumpff. The Amsterdam Joffers were often stereotyped as wealthy ladies who painted as a hobby, which is both true and untrue. Yes, they were well-off women, but Lizzy and her friends sold enough paintings, books, and other artworks to make a living from their art.
Ansingh was also a member of the Amsterdam art societies Arti et Amicitiae and Sint Lucas. She traveled for art to Rome, Paris, Florence, and Milan at a time when it was not common for women to travel alone. She influenced other female artist being succesfull with good sales and several exhibitions.
