Dame bezig met haar toilet c. 1659 - 1661

Gerard ter Borch II made this drawing called ‘Dame bezig met haar toilet’ using pen in gray ink. Ter Borch, who lived in the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands, often depicted scenes of domestic life. Here, we see a woman attending to her toilette, assisted by another woman, possibly a maid. The presence of a servant in armor carrying a tray suggests a household of considerable wealth, deeply entrenched in a society organized by class and privilege. During the 17th century, the Netherlands saw the rise of a powerful merchant class, yet the rigid social hierarchies remained, influencing everything from fashion to domestic arrangements. Ter Borch’s intimate portrayal invites reflection on the labor and status of the women depicted, and the social structures that governed their lives. It is a window into their world, and perhaps also into our own.