De huwelijksinzegening van de Maagd Maria 1612

Gerard ter Borch made this drawing depicting the marriage of the Virgin Mary. Ter Borch lived through the religious and political divisions of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by both great prosperity and social stratification. This piece invites us to reflect on the cultural and religious norms surrounding marriage and gender roles in 17th-century Dutch society. Mary’s delicate demeanor and the solemnity of the ceremony underscores the Church's role in dictating female virtue and the marital expectations of the time. The male figures, standing as witnesses, highlight the communal and patriarchal dimensions of marriage. The setting, possibly a Catholic church, hints at Ter Borch's own religious background in a predominantly Protestant society. The image reflects not just a biblical scene but also the social values embedded in the institution of marriage. It presents a moment laden with cultural and religious significance, capturing the intimate yet publicly regulated rite of marriage.