Vrouw gebogen over een lange kist in een interieur c. 1651

Harmen ter Borch created this drawing, "Vrouw gebogen over een lange kist in een interieur", with pen and gray ink and gray wash. In the 17th-century Netherlands, household scenes reflected societal values and gender roles. Ter Borch's image depicts a woman in a domestic setting. The objects surrounding her—shelves with pottery and a long chest—speak to the everyday life and labour of women during this period. But what is the woman doing? What is inside the chest? Is she doing work, searching for something, or hiding something? This composition invites us to think about the social conditions that framed women's lives in the Dutch Golden Age. This was a time of economic prosperity, but also of rigid social hierarchies. Historical records, such as household inventories, personal letters, and other visual representations of daily life, provide us with further insights into the social dynamics of this time. These resources help us understand the meanings of the artwork within its original context and interpret its significance for us today.