Gedicht met dialoog tussen Jakes en Elisabeth 1658 - 1659

This is a page from Gesina ter Borch’s album amicorum, a kind of friendship book, which contains a poem with a dialogue between Jakes and Elisabeth. Ter Borch was a Dutch Golden Age watercolorist and poet, but more significantly she was a woman artist in a time when female artists were often overlooked. Living in a patriarchal society, her art offered a space to explore and express personal and social identities. Ter Borch never married, which allowed her the freedom to dedicate herself to her art and literary pursuits, interests that would have been stifled by marriage. Her friendships with other intellectual women also played a crucial role in her artistic and intellectual development. Through art, Ter Borch defied societal norms and expectations, carving out a unique space for herself and offering a window into the social dynamics of her time. The intimate nature of this album invites us to reflect on the personal connections that shape our identities.