Maaltijd te Emmaüs 1661

Moses ter Borch created this drawing, “Maaltijd te Emmaüs,” with pen in gray ink and gray wash. The composition, contained within a square format, immediately draws your eye to the figures seated around the table. The dramatic expressions of the three figures, rendered in stark grayscale, create a dynamic tension. Notice how Ter Borch’s strategic use of light and shadow animates the scene. The artist masterfully employs chiaroscuro to highlight moments of revelation, drawing from the tenebrism popular in the Baroque period. This technique is particularly noticeable in the upturned faces and gesturing hands, which are thrown into sharp relief. By emphasizing the contrast between light and darkness, Ter Borch encourages a reading of the image through a lens of spiritual awakening and the dichotomy between ignorance and knowledge. The very structure of the artwork challenges us to consider how visual forms can be imbued with layers of cultural and philosophical significance.