Girl Standing before a Mirror

This young woman’s brown and white ensemble shows Caspar Netscher’s ability to depict gleaming satins without a trace of the paintbrush, a feat admired by discerning collectors in the Dutch Republic. Netscher studied with Gerard ter Borch and emulated his teacher’s refined interiors populated with affluent protagonists. The woman’s gesture toward the gilt-framed mirror, supplemented by the imported Persian rug and pearls, invites viewers to marvel at painting’s ability to seduce and fool the viewer.