Interieur met een briefschrijvende vrouw, een wachtende man en twee toeschouwers c. 1655 - 1665

Gerard ter Borch created this ink drawing, "Interior with a Letter Writing Woman, a Waiting Man and Two Spectators", to capture a scene of domestic life. It offers us insights into the social roles and cultural practices of 17th-century Netherlands. The act of letter writing itself signifies a level of literacy and communication that was becoming increasingly important in Dutch society during this time. The waiting man and the two spectators also point to a culture that valued observation and social interaction. Ter Borch was working in a period when Dutch art began to reflect the values and interests of a growing middle class, keen to establish its place in the social hierarchy. Analyzing these visual codes requires an understanding of the social structures of the time. Scholarly resources can reveal much more about Dutch society and its values. The art itself is a valuable historical document contingent on its cultural moment.