Gedicht over de eigenschappen die jonge meisjes moeten bezitten c. 1646 - 1650

Curator: Here we have Gesina ter Borch’s, “Gedicht over de eigenschappen die jonge meisjes moeten bezitten," made around 1646-1650. The title translates to “Poem about the qualities young girls should possess." What are your first impressions? Editor: Well, it’s intriguing! It looks like a page from a sketchbook or personal journal, with handwriting and a swirling drawing at the bottom. I’m curious, what does the poem say, and what do you see in it? Curator: The poem outlines the virtues expected of young women during the Dutch Golden Age – purity, obedience, and piety among them. But, to me, it also reads as something of a lament or a sigh, rather than a proud proclamation. Editor: A lament? How so? Curator: Notice the spiraling vortex below the poem. It draws you in and could represent the complexities and confusions surrounding these expectations. What if this swirling shape visualises the inner world struggling with such external pressures? Does it feel oppressive to you? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way! It’s almost as if she’s depicting the constraints and expectations rather than just writing them down. Do you think this poem and drawing were her personal reflection on these societal expectations? Curator: Precisely! This piece is a tender insight into the artist’s interiority – it is a reminder that art is often at its best when it quietly whispers its truths. What do you think, does knowing more about it now change your initial perception? Editor: Definitely. At first, I saw a simple calligraphic drawing. Now, I see a young woman wrestling with societal expectations, expressing herself in a subtle yet powerful way. Thanks for sharing your insight! Curator: The pleasure was all mine! It is works like these that demonstrate how deeply art can reflect and subtly challenge the conventions of its time.