Groep herders maakt plezier in de zomer - Gesina ter Borch

A charming seventeenth-century watercolour from the personal album of Gesina ter Borch, depicting a group of shepherds enjoying music and company in a summer field.

This delicate work by Gesina ter Borch originates from her personal album, a collection of drawings and poetry that offers a rare glimpse into the private creative life of a seventeenth-century Dutch woman. The composition depicts a group of shepherds and shepherdesses gathered at a wooden table in an open field, engaged in social recreation. One figure plays a violin, while others sit in conversation, framed by two trees that anchor the scene on either side. The artist employs a light, airy touch with watercolour, capturing the relaxed atmosphere of a summer day.

Above the figures, the page features elegant calligraphy. The text, written in Dutch, complements the visual narrative by describing the romantic and pastoral themes common to the period. The combination of script and illustration is characteristic of the albums kept by the Ter Borch family, which functioned as both artistic exercises and social documents. Gesina ter Borch was a skilled draughtswoman, and her work often reflects the domestic and social customs of her time. The scene is not merely a depiction of rural life, but a reflection of the literary and musical interests of the Dutch elite and middle classes. The fine, calligraphic lines used for the text contrast with the softer, tinted washes of the figures below, creating a balanced page layout. This print captures the charm of the original manuscript, preserving the interplay between the written word and the visual image that defined the artist's personal collection.