Staande heer c. 1654

'Standing Gentleman' is a pen and watercolor drawing by Gesina ter Borch, created sometime in the 17th century. Ter Borch was a Dutch Golden Age artist in a time when women’s artistic contributions were often overlooked. Here, a man is meticulously rendered; his stance, clothing, and cane speak to his status. The soft watercolors capture the delicate fabrics of his coat and the jaunty feather in his hat. Yet, the surrounding text hints at a tension. Is he a figure in a poem? Does the text add to his story? The presence of the shadow figure looming behind him on the page also creates an ominous, ghostly atmosphere. Ter Borch, as a woman artist, adds layers of complexity; she herself occupied a unique position within a patriarchal society, so perhaps she uses her art to subtly challenge or investigate these societal norms. It’s an intimate glimpse into a world where identity and social expectation intertwine.