Lijst met kleursymbolen - Harmen ter Borch

A seventeenth-century Dutch manuscript page by Harmen ter Borch, detailing the symbolic meanings of colours through elegant calligraphy and hand-painted hearts.

This manuscript page by Harmen ter Borch, a member of the notable Ter Borch family of artists from Zwolle, provides a fascinating look into seventeenth-century semiotics. The work functions as a guide to colour symbolism, pairing small, hand-painted hearts with elegant, flowing Dutch calligraphy. Each entry assigns a specific emotional or moral quality to a hue, reflecting the period's interest in emblems and the hidden meanings behind visual motifs.

The artist employs a delicate hand, using iron gall ink for the script and modest washes of watercolour for the heart icons. The composition is structured as a vertical list, prioritising clarity and order. The script exhibits the characteristic flourishes of the era, demonstrating the artist's training in penmanship and draftsmanship. This document is not merely a decorative exercise, but a record of the cultural associations prevalent in the Dutch Republic, where colours were frequently used to communicate complex sentiments in art and literature.

As a piece of historical ephemera, the work captures the intersection of personal study and formal artistic practice. The paper shows the natural ageing of centuries, with subtle discolouration that adds to its character. The minimalist layout allows the viewer to focus on the relationship between the written word and the symbolic colour, making it an ideal choice for those interested in the history of graphic design, linguistics, or the visual culture of the seventeenth century. It offers a quiet, intellectual aesthetic that complements a study or a library space.