A delicate seventeenth-century portrait study in black and white chalk on blue paper, capturing a woman in a black cap with subtle light and shadow.

This study by Moses ter Borch demonstrates the technical precision common to the Dutch Golden Age. Executed in black and white chalk on blue paper, the drawing captures a woman in profile, her head tilted downwards. The artist uses the blue tone of the paper as a mid-tone, applying white chalk to define the highlights on the forehead, nose, and chin, while black chalk provides the depth of the shadows and the texture of the cap.

Moses ter Borch, the younger brother of the more famous Gerard ter Borch, produced a body of work that remains largely within the family archive. His drawings often focus on domestic subjects and family members, rendered with a quiet, observational quality. This specific portrait reflects the artist's ability to capture a fleeting expression or a moment of repose. The soft transitions between light and shadow, achieved through careful hatching and blending, reveal a sophisticated understanding of form and volume.

The subject wears a simple black cap, a common accessory for women in the mid-seventeenth century. The focus remains entirely on the facial features and the play of light across the skin. By stripping away background detail, the artist directs the viewer to the subtle contours of the face and the gentle curve of the neck. This work is a fine example of the intimate, small-scale portraiture that flourished in the Netherlands during this period, where artists frequently turned their attention to the people within their immediate surroundings. The preservation of the blue paper adds a distinct character to the piece, maintaining the atmospheric quality of the original sketch.