A Young Woman at Her Toilet with a Maid

Gerard ter Borch executed this oil-on-panel genre scene in 1650. The painting's documented ownership history begins with Augustin Blondel de Gagny, followed by Théodore Patureau and Bernard du Bus de Gisignies. Subsequent proprietors included Léopold Goldschmidt and Rodolphe Kann.

The work later entered the collection of Charles Sedelmeyer before being acquired by the dealer Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen. J. P. Morgan also held ownership at a later stage. The piece currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been featured in exhibitions such as "Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry."

The painting A Young Woman at Her Toilet with a Maid, executed by Gerard ter Borch in 1650, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created on a panel support using oil paint, the work measures 47.6 by 34.6 centimeters. Historical records indicate the piece passed through several notable private hands, including those of Charles Sedelmeyer, Augustin Blondel de Gagny, Théodore Patureau, Bernard du Bus de Gisignies, Léopold Goldschmidt, Rodolphe Kann, Joseph Duveen, and J. P. Morgan, before entering its current institutional home.

The artwork has been featured in significant exhibitions, most notably Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry, which highlighted its status within the genre of domestic interior scenes.

The painting exemplifies Gerard ter Borch’s mastery of Dutch genre scenes, combining meticulous detail with a quiet domestic narrative. Its inclusion in the exhibition catalogue 'Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. Inspiration and Rivalry' signals sustained scholarly interest in ter Borch’s role among his contemporaries.

Provenance records trace ownership through notable collectors and dealers, underscoring the work’s acceptance within elite collections. The piece’s formal qualities, oil on panel, modest dimensions, and focus on a young woman attended by a maid, illustrate the artist’s contribution to the evolution of interior genre painting in the mid‑17th century.

The painting's reputation is underscored by its inclusion in the significant exhibition 'Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. Inspiration and Rivalry,' which contextualizes Gerard ter Borch's influence among his contemporaries. Its provenance history, featuring prominent collectors such as Augustin Blondel de Gagny, Léopold Goldschmidt, Rodolphe Kann, and Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen, reflects its long-standing esteem within the art market and private collections.

The work's enduring legacy is further solidified by its current residence in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ensuring its accessibility to the public and scholars. These factors collectively demonstrate the painting's sustained recognition as a key example of Dutch genre art from the mid-17th century.

Gerard ter Borch's A Young Woman at Her Toilet with a Maid, an oil painting created around 1650, captures a private domestic scene. This work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age artist's focus on intimate genre subjects, depicting a quiet interaction between two women within a dimly lit interior. The painting is recognized for its subtle psychological nuance and is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.