The Flea-Catcher (Boy with his Dog)

Gerard ter Borch depicted a tender domestic moment in this genre scene of a young boy searching his dog for fleas. The child concentrates intently on his task, examining his pet's fur with careful attention. Warm light illuminates the pair against a neutral background, creating an intimate atmosphere of quiet companionship.

Ter Borch was celebrated for elegant genre scenes and portraits, but also painted humble subjects with the same refined technique. Flea-catching scenes were common in Dutch Golden Age painting, often carrying symbolic associations with idleness or domestic care. His treatment lifts the mundane activity into something quietly touching. This painting now hangs at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, which holds outstanding Old Master collections.