Bloemguirlande om een knipsel van een grafmonument c. 1670 - 1687

Gesina ter Borch made this floral garland around a cutting of a funerary monument using pen and watercolor, in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-17th century. The combination of life and death, a somber monument encircled by vibrant flowers, presents a fascinating window into the Dutch Golden Age’s attitudes toward mortality. This era, while marked by immense economic prosperity and flourishing art, was also shadowed by constant reminders of life’s fragility, from devastating plagues to maritime disasters. Ter Borch's choice of flowers isn't accidental; each bloom likely carries symbolic weight, reflecting contemporary notions of remembrance, virtue, or the transient nature of beauty. The funerary monument itself, depicted in stark monochrome, embodies the solemnity of death. Yet, the angel perched atop it suggests hope and divine intervention. To fully appreciate this piece, one might delve into period emblem books and botanical treatises to decode the floral symbolism. Considering Ter Borch’s position as a woman artist within a patriarchal society also adds depth to our understanding. Her artwork is a poignant reflection on life, death, and the social structures of her time.