Who painted Portrait of an Officer?

Portrait of an Officer was painted by Gerard ter Borch.

Where can I see Portrait of an Officer?

Portrait of an Officer is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of an Officer?

Portrait of an Officer is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of an Officer

Gerard ter Borch

Portrait of an Officer is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch. It is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of an Officer, painted on copper in 1690 by Gerard ter Borch, is a characteristic example of the Dutch Golden Age painter’s ability to convey nuanced human emotion and intimate settings.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, a military officer, is depicted in formal attire, including a dark coat with gold trim, a white lace collar, striped skirt, and a prominent curly wig, holding a helmet. The portrayal emphasizes the individual’s personality through subtle facial expressions and soft shadowing.

Technique & Style

Ter Borch employed chiaroscuro to dramatic effect, with strong contrasts between light and dark accentuating the officer’s features and the realism of the helmet. The dark background, faintly suggesting a landscape and curtained space, further enhances the subject’s prominence.

History & Provenance

Created in 1690, the painting is now part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, reflecting ter Borch’s influence on his contemporaries, including Johannes Vermeer, in capturing domestic intimacy and psychological depth.

Legacy

Ter Borch’s focus on individual psychology and domestic settings in works like *Portrait of an Officer* significantly influenced the development of Dutch portraiture during the Golden Age period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Gerard ter Borch

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.