Artwork
A Boy Lousing a Dog
A Boy Lousing a Dog is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1659, this oil painting by Dutch artist Gerard ter Borch captures a quiet domestic scene. A young boy, seated on a chair, is shown carefully extracting fleas from a dog with a white and brown coat. The composition is set against a dark backdrop, with a modest table to the right that holds a book and a hat, emphasizing the everyday nature of the moment.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a simple act of care, highlighting the relationship between child and animal within a household. By portraying the boy’s concentration and the dog’s passive presence, ter Borch invites contemplation of routine chores and the subtle emotional connections that arise in ordinary life, a theme common in his genre paintings.
Technique & Style
Ter Borch employs chiaroscuro to model forms, using strong contrasts between illuminated figures and the surrounding gloom to create depth. The meticulous rendering of textures—fabric folds, fur, and the reflective surfaces of the book and hat—demonstrates his precise brushwork and attention to material detail, hallmarks of Dutch Golden Age realism.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. It entered the museum’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century, joining a broader representation of Dutch Golden Age works that the institution maintains for public display and scholarly study.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerard ter Borch (Dutch: ; December 1617 – 8 December 1681), also known as Gerard Terburg (Dutch: ), was a Dutch Golden Age painter mainly of genre subjects.
