The Messenger, known as 'The Unwelcome News'

Ter Borch became famous for his intimate scenes of people engrossed in what they are doing, often unaware of our presence. He also had an exceptional talent for depicting different materials, like the gleaming satin of the girl’s dress.

Here, we see a soldier receiving a letter from a messenger. It’s easy to imagine that the letter is a call to the front, away from the girl who leans against him so lovingly.