Oefenschets van slapend kind, liggend op een kussen c. 1657 - 1658

This is a sketch of a sleeping child resting on a pillow, made by Moses ter Borch in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-17th century. In Dutch Golden Age paintings, children often appear in genre scenes or portraits, subtly conveying moral messages or social status. Here, the intimacy of the sketch, its focus on capturing a fleeting moment of private domesticity, anticipates modern sensibilities. Ter Borch's delicate lines and soft shading, rendered in graphite, invite us into a quiet, contemplative space, a departure from the more formal and didactic representations of children common at the time. To fully appreciate this sketch, we need to consider the social context in which Ter Borch was working, researching the history of Dutch childhood and artistic training in the 17th century. By exploring such avenues, we gain insight into the changing attitudes toward children and the evolving role of art in reflecting these shifts.