Dame en een heer die zelfmoord pleegt c. 1654 - 1658

Gesina ter Borch created this watercolor, “Dame en een heer die zelfmoord pleegt,” sometime in the 17th century. You can see how Ter Borch applied layers of watercolor wash to build up the figures and give volume to their garments. The work is on paper, probably laid, which has a soft texture and creamy tone, ideally suited for absorbing the pigment. The thinness of the paper also suggests that it was relatively inexpensive, made available through the advent of paper mills that used water-powered machinery. You can see text densely inscribed on the page above, suggesting that it comes from a book or manuscript. This element of the composition evokes both literary traditions and the bookmaking trade. The decision to draw in watercolor on paper, rather than painting in oil on canvas, speaks to the artist’s social status. As a woman, she was likely restricted from accessing more traditional artist’s materials. Ultimately, this reminds us that artistic expression is almost always shaped by available means.