Visser met hengel en mand Possibly 1651 - 1659

Harmen ter Borch created this drawing, "Fisherman with Rod and Basket," using pen in brown and gray, around 1661. The eye is immediately drawn to the walking figure, rendered with quick, assured strokes that capture a sense of movement. The composition is deceptively simple, yet the artist's command over line and shading creates depth and volume. We see this in the way the light falls across the fisherman's form, highlighting the folds in his clothing and the texture of his beard. The dynamism within the drawing, particularly in the fisherman's stance and the way the basket swings, suggests an interest in capturing fleeting moments, which aligns with contemporary artistic concerns around naturalism and the depiction of everyday life. Note how the artist uses shadow not just to define form but to anchor the figure in space, adding a layer of realism to the scene. This engagement with light and shadow, combined with the expressive use of line, speaks to Ter Borch's skill in translating observation into art.