Gerard ter Borch (1617–81) remains one of the most beloved painters of the 17th-century Dutch "Golden Age." Although he began his career representing rustic genre scenes, he shifted his interests to portraiture and refined scenes from everyday life. Ter Borch focused on subjects set in formal aristocratic interiors. He was an acute observer of the world around him and developed a unique ability to render the shimmering effects of fabric, especially the satin dresses worn by the elegantly dressed women who populate his genre subjects. Ter Borch also lovingly renders other precious objects, including silver ointment jars and mirrors associated with a lady's toilette. Although his subjects outwardly seem realistic, they project a sense of mystery. What really transpires in his paintings remains unknown and hauntingly provocative. Herein lies the enduring appeal of Ter Borch, an artist who, like Vermeer, brings Dutch genre painting to its highest level of perfection.
