Heer en jongedame in een omhelzing 1653

This watercolor of a man and a woman embracing was created by Gesina ter Borch, sometime in the 17th century. It's painted on a page that also has handwritten poetry. Gesina came from a wealthy family, and it shows in her technique. Note the fineness of the strokes and the control of the washes, which comes from considerable practice with the materials. But watercolor was not considered a high art at this time. The techniques were associated more with illustration and the decorative arts. What is unusual here is that the sheet is from a family album. Gesina made many of these, and they show her world as it was. Perhaps she chose watercolor because it was more private, domestic, and intimate. It allowed her to observe the world around her, not with the high polish of an oil painting, but with a more direct, personal touch. So, she may be turning a seemingly modest material into a powerful means of expression.