“I Am You” by Victoria Redel is a historical novel set in the 1600s within the male-dominated European art world. The story fictionalizes the lives of real artists Maria van Oosterwijk and her servant, Geertje Pieters Wyntges, also known as Gerta Pieters.

This queer novel explores a spectrum of themes. Gerta begins the story disguised as a male servant to the renowned artist Maria. Over time, she evolves into Maria's female apprentice, lover, and student. Their relationship is complex, sometimes symbiotic and at other times parasitic. It is a tale that delves into love, resentment, art, gender, politics, and class.

I highly recommend this engaging read. It was vivid and provided a lot of context to set the stage. Fans of the film "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" and those who enjoy the works of Sarah Waters are likely to appreciate it. Thank you to Zando, SJP Projects, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.