Gedicht over een oude en een nieuwe liefde (deel 1) c. 1646 - 1650

Gesina ter Borch created this handwritten poem, Gedicht over een oude en een nieuwe liefde (deel 1), using ink on paper. Ter Borch's choice of simple materials – paper and ink – speaks volumes about the intimacy and accessibility of her work. The delicate lines of the handwriting, achieved with a quill or fine pen, reveal both the artist’s skill and the care she put into each stroke. The texture of the paper, though smooth, bears witness to the absorption of the ink, creating subtle variations in tone and depth. This directness is key, because handwriting is inherently personal. The act of writing becomes a form of self-expression, a record of the artist's thoughts and emotions made visible. Consider, too, the social context of this poem. In a time when literacy and artistic expression were often confined to certain social classes, Ter Borch's work challenges traditional distinctions between personal and public, craft and fine art, inviting us to reconsider the value of everyday creativity.