A mother carefully combs her child’s hair for lice. However, the child finds himself thinking stoically during the inspection. Ter Borch painted many of these genre scenes in which the main characters are absorbed for the duration of the action. In this sense, The Lice Hunt contains a moral, as tidiness and cleanliness were the ideal qualities of a good housewife. In the 17th century, the lice comb represented both a clean appearance and a pure character.
Collection: Images
Project: 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe., 8. Women and the change for gender equality in Europe.
Chronology: XVII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Image
Format: Oil on panel (33,2 x 28,7 cm)
Source: Mauritshuis (La Haya)
Language: English
Date: 1625-53
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Identifier: 744
Copyright: Mauritshuis (La Haya)
Abstract: Everyday scene where a mother combs her daughter's hair to protect it from parasites
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