Artwork
Woman Pouring Wine
Woman Pouring 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 Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650 by Dutch painter Gerard ter Borch, Woman Pouring Wine is an oil on canvas that captures a modest domestic scene. The work is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection and exemplifies the quiet, observational quality typical of ter Borch’s genre paintings, which often focus on everyday moments within interior spaces.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a young woman dressed in a vivid red gown as she tilts a silver pitcher, letting wine flow into a glass. An older female figure watches from behind, while a man in a dark hat leans forward, holding a small object. The tableau suggests a moment of shared hospitality, emphasizing subtle interaction and the ritual of serving wine.
Technique & Style
Ter Borch employs a restrained palette illuminated by soft, directional light that creates a gentle chiaroscuro effect, drawing attention to the faces and hands of the figures. The contrast between the bright red dress and the muted surroundings heightens the intimacy of the scene, while delicate brushwork renders textures such as the sheen of metal and the folds of fabric.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on view. Its attribution to ter Borch aligns with his known oeuvre of interior genre scenes, which influenced contemporaries such as Johannes Vermeer. The work’s provenance reflects the broader appreciation of Dutch Golden Age art among American collectors and institutions.
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.
