Artwork

Woman Drinking Wine

Woman Drinking Wine, by Gerard ter Borch, oil, 1650
Woman Drinking Wine, by Gerard ter Borch, oil, 1650

Woman Drinking Wine is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1650, this oil painting by Gerard ter Borch presents a quiet domestic interior. A woman seated in a chair holds a wine glass, while a jug rests on the floor nearby. The composition is rendered with careful attention to light and shadow, characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures a moment of private contemplation: the woman, dressed in a dark gown with a white apron, looks downward as she sips wine. The simple objects—a bed, a jug, the glass—suggest everyday life and invite reflection on the subtleties of personal ritual.

Technique & Style

Ter Borch employs chiaroscuro to model forms, allowing the illuminated figure to emerge from a darker background. The handling of oil paint creates a smooth surface and delicate textures, especially in the fabric and the reflective glass, highlighting the artist’s skill in rendering materiality.

History & Provenance

The painting belongs to the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt. It has remained attributed to ter Borch since its identification as a product of his mature period, reflecting his focus on genre scenes during the mid‑17th century.

Context

Within the Dutch Golden Age, ter Borch specialized in interior genre scenes that reveal psychological nuance. His approach to domestic subjects and nuanced lighting would later influence contemporaries such as Johannes Vermeer, who explored similar themes of quiet interiority.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Gerard ter Borch

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.

Städel Museum

Museum

Städel Museum

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Städel Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.