Artwork
Portrait of Johanna Bardoel (d after 1667), wife of Gerard van der Schalcke
Portrait of Johanna Bardoel (d after 1667), wife of Gerard van der Schalcke is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
The use of dark colors and the plain background also indicate that the artist was focusing on the subject's portrait rather than the surroundings.
This painting is a portrait of a woman dressed in 17th-century attire. She wears a dark dress with a white collar and holds a pair of gloves in her hands. The background is dark, and the woman is set against a plain backdrop.
The woman's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it was created in the 17th century. The use of dark colors and the plain background also indicate that the artist was focusing on the subject's portrait rather than the surroundings.
If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to look into the work of artist Gerard ter Borch.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Johanna Bardoel, wife of Gerard van der Schalcke, rendered as a portrait by Gerard ter Borch in 1644. She is depicted in period attire typical of the Dutch upper middle class, emphasizing her social standing. The work functions as a status portrait within the Dutch Golden Age tradition, reflecting both familial connection and contemporary portraiture conventions.
Measured at 29.5 cm by 23.5 cm, the oil on panel piece is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection.
The portrait serves as a visual record of a married woman from the Dutch merchant class, embodying themes of domestic virtue and social position through conventional iconography of the era.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, measuring 29.5 cm by 23.5 cm. Executed in 1644, the portrait demonstrates the refined brushwork and restrained palette typical of Dutch Golden Age portraiture, with subtle modeling of facial features and meticulous attention to textile detail that conveys both the sitter's status and the artist's technical mastery.
History & Provenance
Gerard ter Borch painted Portrait of Johanna Bardoel in 1644 as a commissioned likeness of the wife of Gerard van der Schalcke. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display today. Executed in oil on panel, the portrait measures 29.5 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width. Its creation is dated to 1644, reflecting the artist's early activity in the Dutch Republic.
Legacy
The portrait was painted in 1644 by Gerard ter Borch and entered the Rijksmuseum collection, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age holdings. Its presence in a major national museum has contributed to renewed scholarly interest in the artist’s oeuvre and in the representation of women in 17th-century portraiture.
Overview
Painted in 1644, Portrait of Johanna Bardoel is an oil-on-canvas work by Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard ter Borch, depicting the wife of Gerard van der Schalcke in a characteristic refined domestic setting.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, this work reflects ter Borch's influence on contemporaries, notably Johannes Vermeer, in capturing intimate, emotionally nuanced scenes.
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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.
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