Boerenwoning met schuur aan een landweg c. 1631 - 1633

Gerard ter Borch created this pen and ink drawing, "Boerenwoning met schuur aan een landweg", which translates to "Farmhouse with barn on a country road," sometime in the 17th century. Trained in the Dutch Golden Age, Ter Borch painted refined genre scenes for wealthy patrons and also sketched more humble views of the countryside. This drawing of a simple farmhouse offers us a glimpse into the largely unrecorded lives of the rural poor in the Netherlands. Made during a time of great economic expansion and social change, the Dutch Golden Age saw the rise of a powerful merchant class and a growing gap between rich and poor. This drawing invites us to consider who was included and excluded from the prosperity of the time. By studying economic and social records of the 17th century, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex social dynamics that shaped the art of this period. Art history is richer when we consider the full picture.