Gerard ter Borcht (1617-1681), "The Parental Admonition" (1654)
According to Sister Wendy, this painting was incorrectly titled many years ago and modern closer inspection would seem to indicate that the standing figure is NOT the daughter but a Provider, the seated women drinking some wine is not the mother but the Madam and the seated man is too young to be a father and must be a hobbyist. He is holding something, a coin or a gem, between his thumb and forefinger and is, it seems, haggling over the price! The scene, it seems, is in a brothel. According to Sister Wendy.
Although TER is now in Germany, I think they used to be in Amsterdam, where ter Borcht lived and painted and, perhaps, hobbied. How else would ter Borcht know how to paint what is going on "in the room?" Did TER take their name from TER Borcht?
Was this painting used as an advertisement for the brothel in the local Red Light District? Did TER Borcht write a review or is this painting his pictorial review? Did they use the 10-point rating system back then or is that a modern invention?
Gerard ter Borcht (1617-1681), "It's 110% Me or It's Free" (1654