De Heilige Familie c. 1655 - 1667

Editor: This is "The Holy Family," a pen, ink and watercolor drawing on paper, made around 1655 to 1667 by Moses ter Borch. The presentation reminds me of an illustration in a book of hours. What's your interpretation of this scene? Curator: I see a concentrated cluster of potent symbols within what seems like a modest devotional image. Consider the mother nursing the child: this motif, lactatio Mariae, directly recalls the nurturing aspect of the divine, a visual shorthand for grace. Then, those faint doves… Editor: Are they meant to represent the Holy Spirit? Curator: Precisely. But see how they are subtly positioned, almost like an afterthought? This positioning might suggest the complex theological dance surrounding the Trinity, downplaying a direct manifestation in favor of implied presence. What of Joseph? He appears to be observing in the background, a faint figure. Is he accepting or skeptical? Borch might be inviting viewers to reflect on Joseph's own quiet, dutiful role. Editor: So, it's less about overt religious statement and more about intimate, familial contemplation. Curator: Quite. Ter Borch uses familiar iconography not as an end, but as a point of entry. The viewer encounters echoes of faith but must decide for themselves what meanings to cultivate, and perhaps consider its domesticity – this tableau vivante is an argument for accessibility within a faith that sometimes feels impenetrable. What do you think is the significance of its rendering in a sketchbook? Editor: That perhaps faith is not some grand gesture, but something more casual, to be considered and revisited. I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Curator: Seeing familiar symbols afresh...that's the joy of studying art, isn't it?