They closely observe her reaction, but the interpretation of what goes on psychologically between the figures remains a mystery, and is left to the viewers mind.

As always, ter Borch pays a lot of attention to details, such as the tray and candlestick in the boy's hands, the inkwell on the table by the woman on the left, and even the vaguely rendered chandelier against the dark background.

Ter Borch painted many of these anecdotal works, often with the same models and with few changing elements, very similar in atmosphere.

Because these figures have an intimate relationship with each other from a psychological point of view, the viewer is, as it were, excluded: he can only guess the circumstances of the event.

Depicting veiled meanings in this way, often of the amorous kind, was usual that time and can also be observed in many of ter Borch's colleagues.