Gambaspeler en een vrouw die een clavichord bespeelt before 1648

Harmen ter Borch made this drawing with pen in grey-brown ink around 1660, during the Dutch Golden Age. The drawing depicts a man playing a viola da gamba, and a woman at a clavichord. The Dutch Golden Age saw a growing middle class who had more disposable income and time for leisure activities. Music became more accessible and widespread, moving from the courts to the homes of ordinary citizens. Harmen ter Borch was a Dutch genre painter; his works offer intimate glimpses into the daily lives of people. The roles assigned to women at this time were to be homemakers, but playing an instrument was seen as a sign of refinement and education, especially for women of the upper and middle classes. Women were encouraged to play instruments like the clavichord to showcase their cultural accomplishments. This drawing provides a glimpse into the gendered expectations and social norms surrounding music in the 17th century, where art and daily life were intimately entwined.