Geliefden in een formele tuin c. 1658

This drawing by Gesina ter Borch, held at the Rijksmuseum, delicately renders lovers in a formal garden. Gardens have long been emblems of paradise and earthly delight; formalized here with strict lines and symmetry, they speak to a yearning for order amidst the chaos of life. The lovers are resting on a tiger-striped bench, a motif that carries layers of meaning through art history. The tiger, often a symbol of raw power, appears here tamed and domesticated, perhaps alluding to the civilizing effect of love and society. Consider how the tiger recurs in Delacroix's paintings, untamed and ferocious, or in ancient Roman mosaics symbolizing exotic conquest. Here, it reappears, subtly transformed into a symbol of controlled passion. This emotional tension, the dance between wildness and restraint, engages us on a deep, subconscious level, echoing the timeless human struggle to reconcile our inner nature with the world around us. The formal garden and its tamer tiger invite us to consider how symbols shift, evolve, and resurface across time.