Aanbidding der herders - Gesina ter Borch

A delicate seventeenth-century watercolour and ink illustration from the personal album of Dutch artist Gesina ter Borch, depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds.

This work by Gesina ter Borch originates from her personal album, a collection that offers a rare glimpse into the domestic and creative life of a seventeenth-century Dutch woman. The composition depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds, a traditional biblical scene, rendered with the modest, personal touch characteristic of her private sketchbooks. The upper portion of the page features elegant, flowing calligraphy in Dutch, which provides a lyrical accompaniment to the visual narrative below.

In the lower section, the scene unfolds within a simple, rustic structure. The figures of the Virgin Mary and the shepherds are positioned around the infant Jesus, who lies in a humble manger. To the left, cattle stand under a thatched roof, while to the right, a figure leads a donkey, adding a sense of movement and realism to the quiet event. Ter Borch employs a muted palette, using soft washes of watercolour to define the forms and create a gentle atmosphere. The line work is delicate, reflecting her skill as a draughtswoman who worked primarily for her own enjoyment and for the entertainment of her family circle.

Unlike the large-scale oil paintings produced by her brother, Gerard ter Borch, this piece demonstrates the intimate scale of amateur artistic practice during the Dutch Golden Age. The combination of text and image suggests a devotional purpose, perhaps intended for contemplation or as part of a family songbook. The work remains a significant example of the artistic output of women in the seventeenth century, showing how personal albums functioned as repositories for both religious reflection and creative expression. The preservation of this page allows for an appreciation of the quiet, observational style that defined much of Gesina ter Borch's surviving body of work.