This compelling collection introduced me to the work of Gesina ter Borch, a 17th-century Dutch artist whose albums and calligraphy offer a fascinating exploration of identity, art, and memory. Part of the Illuminating Women Artists series from Getty Publications, this book brings much-deserved attention to an artist who has been largely overlooked. As I read, I found myself considering how we might view Gesina as a precursor to the contemporary "thought daughter" trend—a young woman deeply immersed in her personal aesthetic and intellectual pursuits. Her meticulous drawings, calligraphy, and poetry reflect a blend of personal reflection and societal navigation, making this collection a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of art, memory, and self-representation, particularly through a feminist or contemporary lens.

This is a close study of the work of under-rated Dutch artist Gesina ter Borch. She was a very ambitious and seemingly somewhat rebellious young woman at times, judging by her subjects which included shocking violence or despair. Unfortunately, she lived in her more famous brother’s shadow but their collaboration and the differences between them are very interesting. She seems to have had an inquiring mind shown by her interest in Catholicism and her openness to subjects not deemed suitable for upper-class Dutch women.

This is an interesting book with lovely paintings.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Adam eakers gesina ter Borch is accompanied by lovely art along with informational history about the wonderful paintings of gesina ter Borch herself, a unique and interesting read with lovely art to back it up,