Geliefden in een formele tuin Possibly 1658

Curator: Here we have “Lovers in a Formal Garden,” thought to be made around 1658 by Gesina ter Borch. It’s currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial reaction is that it’s so delicate. The fine lines and the use of watercolour lend it an ethereal quality. There's something so dreamlike about it. Curator: Absolutely. And it's fascinating when considering Ter Borch's position as a woman artist in the Dutch Golden Age. Drawings and watercolors on paper would have been considered "accomplishments" appropriate for women, blurring lines between fine art and craft. Editor: And that’s interesting in itself – how the formal garden depicted mirrors that same sense of control and artifice. Everything is structured, composed; a meticulously planned space. Curator: It's true; those controlled geometries of the garden serve as a visual representation of social order, yet juxtapose that against a very tangible material expression, through watercolor. Editor: I’m interested in the emotional narrative too. Note how the lovers occupy only a corner. It draws attention to the larger page. What story do the script and landscape play when woven together? Curator: Given the nature of the page and Ter Borch’s social circle, it would have been a custom album amicorum, with her additions, as this illustration and inscription, contributing to the community and circulation of these material items among her circle. Editor: It really pulls at the seams that divide intimacy, societal role, and a life committed to production and social bonds. And such nuance in its muted palette. Curator: Precisely. It's an interesting view into 17th century Dutch life viewed from a woman’s perspective. Thank you for allowing us to view it from different lenses. Editor: It has made me rethink the boundaries between personal expression and formal constraint. Thank you.