Preview AR preview Buy Hand Made Painting Switch to Digital Image Send
Details Guide Add to favorites Download Similars X-Ray Diaporama Q&A Stats

The Message

Dimensions
38.0 x 51.0 cm

A master of Dutch genre painting known for The Letter. Discover his intimate scenes and exquisite realism today.

Giclée / Art Print

Museum-quality giclée or canvas print with fast production and flexible finish options. ( Buy Hand Made Painting Switch to Digital Image)

Standard
custom
CM
INCH

Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

width
height

Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. A print can only be cut, never made bigger than the picture, so a size with a different shape loses a part of the image. We send you a digital mockup to approve before we print anything. The picture shown on this page does not show the real cut — only the mockup does.

Worldwide Delivery () in 2 weeks instead of standard 4/5 weeks. (13 November)

Free Worldwide Express Shipping
High-Quality Linen Canvas
Full Shipping Insurance
Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
True Color Matching Guarantee
100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 63

The Message

Giclée / Art Print

Reproduction Size

-

Total Price

$ 63


Artist Biography

Early Life, Family and Training

December 1617 marks the beginning of Gerard ter Borch in Zwolle, within the province of Overijssel in the Dutch Republic. Artistry runs through his bloodline. His father, Gerard ter Borch the Elder, provides the initial instruction, shaping the young boy's early understanding of the craft. This familial inclination extends to his sister, Gesina ter Borch, who also pursues a career in painting.

The training moves from the domestic sphere to the urban centers of the Dutch Republic. By 1632, Gerard ter Borch is in Amsterdam. He likely studies under Willem Cornelisz Duyster or Pieter Codde, absorbing the technical foundations required for a professional career. The momentum continues in 1634 when he moves to Haarlem to study under Pieter de Molijn. This period of intense instruction culminates in 1635, when the eighteen-year-old is accepted into the Haarlem St. Lukas Guild, a formal recognition of his developing skill.

Travels and International Activity

Ter Borch’s life moves across borders. By 1635, he is in London, absorbing the atmosphere of the English court. This period of movement continues through Germany and France, eventually leading him into the Mediterranean. In 1641, he reaches Rome. The Italian influence is immediate and specific; he works on copper, producing refined portraits such as Jan Six and A Young Lady. These small, detailed surfaces reflect a shift in his technical focus during his time in Italy.

The momentum carries him toward the Iberian Peninsula. In Madrid, his reputation reaches the Spanish court. Philip IV grants him knighthood, a rare distinction for a Dutch painter. This period of high-level patronage and international exposure marks a peak in his social and professional standing. After these excursions, he returns to the Netherlands, finding residence in Haarlem and later settling in Deventer, where he eventually becomes a member of the town council.

Notable Works and Achievements

The 1640s bring a shift toward significant historical observation. In 1648, he captures the gravity of a major political turning point in The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, 15 May 1648. This period also sees him refining the domestic scenes that define his reputation. The Knifegrinder's Family emerges from the 1630s to 1650s, a period where he focused heavily on the lives of common people and entertainers.

Texture becomes a primary language in his later output. In The Letter, light and the tactile quality of fabric take center stage. He moves from these intimate, quiet moments to more structured social settings. By 1655, works like The Glass of Lemonade demonstrate a continued mastery of light within domestic interiors. The focus remains on the subtle nuances of human interaction and the physical reality of the objects surrounding them.

His late career continues this precision. The Concert, dating from 1675, shows a settled artist still preoccupied with the interplay of light and shadow in a musical setting. His ability to render the sheen of polished surfaces and the delicate weave of drapery remains a constant throughout his decades of practice.

Gerard ter Borch

Gerard ter Borch

1617 - 1681 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Dutch Golden Age
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist:
    • Gabriel Metsu
    • Gerrit Dou
    • Eglon van der Neer
    • Johannes Vermeer
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
    • Willem Cornelisz Duyster
    • Pieter Codde
    • Pieter de Molijn
    • Frans Hals
    • Van Dyck
    • Diego Velasquez
  • Full Name: Gerard ter Borch
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Notable Artworks:
    • The Letter
    • The Gallant Conversation
    • Man on Horseback (1634)
    • Adriaen Pauw's Arrival in Münster (1646)
  • Place Of Birth: Zwolle, Netherlands
  • Date Of Birth: 1617
  • Date Of Death: 1681
Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.