Officier die afscheid neemt van een dame c. 1654

"Officier die afscheid neemt van een dame" is an intimate watercolor and ink drawing in an album created by Gesina ter Borch, a Dutch Golden Age artist. Ter Borch, part of an artistic family, lived during a time of significant social and political change in the Netherlands. Here, a well-dressed officer is seen taking leave of a woman, possibly a lover or wife. His military duties call him away from his personal life, a common narrative during this period of frequent conflicts and colonial expansion. What strikes me is how Ter Borch represents this emotional farewell through a female lens. The work subtly challenges the dominant narratives of heroism and warfare by emphasizing the personal cost of military service, particularly on women left behind. Ter Borch herself never married, and maybe she questioned the traditional roles assigned to women. This piece is a window into the emotional lives of women during the 17th century, offering a counterpoint to the grand narratives of military glory.