Twee staande mannen en een naaiend meisje 1648 - 1677

Editor: This is Harmen ter Borch's "Two Standing Men and a Sewing Girl," made sometime between 1648 and 1677. It's a pen and ink drawing on paper. The image is quite simple. What cultural stories do you see here? Curator: Well, consider the rise of the Dutch middle class during that era. Ter Borch often depicted scenes of everyday life. These sketches likely show us glimpses into their values and pastimes, specifically of different social classes; the ‘sewing girl’ as representing domesticity or servitude. Who was invited to see these images at the time? Editor: Interesting, so these drawings acted almost as social documents for the rising middle class. But were these intimate glimpses publicly available? Curator: Initially, drawings like these likely circulated within a smaller circle, perhaps among fellow artists or patrons. Consider the power dynamics at play. The very act of observing and recording these scenes places the artist – and by extension, the viewer – in a position of power, watching and potentially judging. Are these portraits? Is there space for commentary? Editor: That’s a powerful point. I hadn't considered the power dynamic embedded in observation. Looking again, the girl in contrast to the men seems almost staged or secondary in terms of the image making. Curator: Precisely. Ter Borch's drawings give access into Dutch society and also prompts deeper questions about viewership. Now, considering that what did you find the most compelling? Editor: Thinking about it, the staged aspect seems pretty deliberate. This whole idea of these drawings documenting and judging is very revealing to me. Curator: And for me it is interesting to have been given a further consideration as to how audiences view staged domestic images, particularly around a particular class in society.