Mother Combing the Hair of Her Child

Gerard ter Borch completed this intimate domestic scene around 1652-1653, often called "Hunting for Lice." A mother carefully combs through her son's hair while he waits patiently, clutching an apple. The small oil on panel measures just 33.5 by 29 centimeters.

The boy's white smock and long curls were typical for Dutch boys under six, who wore skirts like girls for practical reasons. Before modern hygiene products existed, regular combing was essential for cleanliness. The subject also carried moral weight: maternal care, orderliness, and cleanliness were the ideal qualities of a good housewife. The lice comb symbolized both physical cleanliness and pure character.

Ter Borch's stepmother Wiesken Matthijs modeled for the woman. The artist's subtle effects of light, refined color gradations, and incomparable rendering of materials make this one of his finest works. It hangs at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.