Woman at a Mirror, Gerard ter Borch (II), c. 1652

Woman at a Mirror, Gerard ter Borch (II), c. 1652

oil on panel, h 34.5cm × w 26cm More details

A young boy holds up a mirror for the woman in the satin gown, who gazes upward at a far more plainly dressed woman. In the 17th century, mirrors symbolized vanity and the transience of life. This painting serves as a cautionary reminder: youth and beauty are fleeting. Ter Borch’s sister, Gesina, also an artist, probably modelled for both women, and his brother Moses for the boy.

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