Anna Kerling was born in 1862 in The Hague. As an artistic girl from the better circles, she attended the special women's class of the Hague Academy of Art (1884-1887). After that she was taught by Suze Robertson. The painter's oeuvre initially included portraits and still lifes. Around 1900 she also made a name for herself with cityscapes, a fairly rare subject for female artists at the time. In summer she often painted in the vicinity of Nunspeet, and in France. Anna Kerling was successful; Queen Emma, among others, bought work from her.