Born in Katwijk, Netherlands, Charley Toorop was the daughter of the renowned symbolist painter Jan Toorop. She developed her own distinct style, moving away from her father's symbolism toward a more rigorous, objective realism that captured the psychological intensity of her subjects.

Her work is characterized by bold lines, somber color palettes, and a focus on the human condition, often featuring self-portraits and depictions of laborers or family members. She was closely associated with the Bergen School, a group of artists who favored a heavy, expressive style of painting.

Toorop remains a central figure in Dutch art history, with her works frequently featured in major institutional surveys. Her contributions to the development of modernism in the Netherlands continue to be highlighted in permanent collection presentations at institutions such as the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.