01
The satin gown
Look at the woman's pale skirt. Its folds catch light in long, glossy streaks, and ter Borch makes the fabric feel slippery and cool.
1 of 4 on the painting
“Step into a hushed 17th-century interior where a music lesson unfolds, masterfully capturing a moment of quiet focus and the interplay of light and shadow.”
ABOUT THIS WORK
A young woman, bathed in soft light, focuses intently on her music lesson in this intimate painting. Her back is to us, drawing our gaze to the sheet music on the table and the instrument she holds. The artist captures a quiet moment, inviting us into a private world of domestic life. The scene unfolds with a subtle elegance, from the rich textures of the fabrics to the gentle expressions of concentration. The way the light falls across the room, illuminating specific details while leaving others in shadow, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, making the viewer feel like an unseen observer.
DETAILS
- Artist
- Gerard ter Borch the Younger
- Date
- 1670
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 63.6 × 50.4 cm (25 × 19 7/8 in.); Framed: 84.8 × 70.8 × 6.4 cm (33 3/8 × 27 7/8 × 2 1/2 in.)
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What to Notice
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02
Lute and hands
The woman's fingers pluck the strings of her lute, which has a rounded wooden body and a long neck with pegs. Her lowered gaze suggests concentration on the music.
2 of 4 on the painting
03
The teacher's bow
The standing man holds a slim bow in his raised hand and leans toward the seated woman as she plays. His pose suggests he is guiding her lesson, and the bow links him to the viol on the table.
3 of 4 on the painting
04
Sleeping spaniel
Down on the blue velvet chair, a small brown and white dog is curled up asleep. It adds a quiet, homey note while the humans are busy with music.
4 of 4 on the painting
05Whole painting
Quiet, dim room
The muted gray-brown room pushes the bright dress forward. The man's dark figure leans in above the woman, and the line down through her shoulders to the pale skirt ties the two together in a calm, private moment.
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THE ARTIST
Gerard ter Borch the Younger
Gerard ter Borch was a Dutch Golden Age painter who masterfully captured the quiet intimacies and subtle emotions within domestic scenes.
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