Four hundred years ago, Zwolle was home to one of the most important artistic families of the seventeenth century, including world-famous figures like Gerard ter Borch and Gesina ter Borch. Many of their childhood drawings were carefully preserved by the family and today offer a unique glimpse into the urban life of that era. The Ter Borch family had a deep connection to Zwolle, and in 2025, the city will celebrate their legacy with At Home with Ter Borch (Thuis bij Ter Borch).This exhibition at Museum de Fundatie, in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, features over 70 works on paper and 35 paintings from Dutch, European, and American museums and private collections, allowing you to get to know this artistic family in their own city.
On 25 September 1625, seven-year-old Gerard ter Borch the Younger (1617-1681) created a small drawing of a horse and rider. With just a few confident lines, this drawing marked the beginning of a highly successful career as a professional artist. Gerard would become known for his masterful depiction of fabrics and the expressive faces of his subjects. At Home with Ter Borch introduces you not only to Gerard but also to his equally talented siblings.
The Artistic Family
Gerard the Younger was not the only talented artist in the family. At least three of his half-siblings—Gesina (1631-1690), Harmen (1638-1677), and Moses (1645-1667), along with Anna—were also gifted artists. Encouraged by their father, Gerard ter Borch the Elder, who was also an artist, they were given the freedom to develop their creativity and learn from one another. The members of the Ter Borch family were constantly sketching, doodling, practicing, copying, competing, inventing, and experimenting. A large collection of their drawings, albums, and paintings has been preserved, thanks in part to the meticulous archiving by Gerard the Elder and Gesina. Gerard the Elder saved hundreds of his children’s drawings and added notes to track their artistic development.
Organization and Publication
The exhibition is curated by Marjorie E. Wieseman, Curator and Head of Northern European Painting at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (USA).
A companion publication with the same title will accompany the exhibition, featuring essays by Beatrice von Bormann, Marjorie E. Wieseman, Coby Zandbergen (Academiehuis), Anna Bouwman, Ilona van Tuinen (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam), Geertje Havers & Michael Klomp (Heritage of the Municipality of Zwolle), and Chourouk Hriech (visual artist). It is a publication by Museum de Fundatie and W-books.