Staande officier, van achteren - Gesina ter Borch

A delicate watercolour and ink study of a standing officer from the personal album of Dutch artist Gesina ter Borch.

This work by Gesina ter Borch originates from her personal album, a collection that offers a rare glimpse into the private artistic pursuits of a seventeenth-century Dutch woman. The image depicts a standing officer viewed from the rear, a motif that allows the artist to focus on the specific details of contemporary military attire. The figure wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with feathers, a doublet, and a sword, capturing the fashion of the period with precision.

Ter Borch was part of a family of artists, and her work often reflects the domestic and social spheres of the Dutch Golden Age. Unlike the large-scale oil paintings produced by her brother, Gerard ter Borch, her drawings and watercolours possess an intimate quality. The inclusion of handwritten text surrounding the figure suggests that this page functioned as a personal anthology, combining visual observation with poetic or lyrical content. The delicate application of watercolour provides a subtle colouration to the officer's clothing, while the ink lines define the posture and silhouette with clarity.

As an amateur artist, Gesina ter Borch documented the people and fashions within her social circle. Her albums are preserved today as significant historical documents, providing insight into the daily life and cultural interests of the Dutch elite. This print captures the quiet observation characteristic of her style, where the subject is presented without the grandiosity often associated with formal portraiture. The composition is balanced, with the figure positioned at the base of the page, allowing the surrounding script to frame the visual element. This piece is a fine example of the intersection between literature and visual art in the seventeenth century, reflecting the personal interests of a woman who engaged deeply with the artistic traditions of her time.