Marskramer met linten c. 1660 - 1687

Harmen ter Borch created this small drawing, “Marskramer met linten,” with pen and brown ink. The figures are rendered with swift, economical lines, capturing a moment of everyday life. The composition, though simple, is structured by the arrangement of the figures. The scene depicts a traveling merchant with ribbons, attended by a woman and child. Note how the artist uses line to define form and texture. The lines are thinner and more delicate, creating a sense of lightness and movement. Ter Borch captures the figures with a remarkable economy of means. The structural relationships between the figures and the objects they interact with convey a sense of social dynamic. Consider the semiotic implications of the ribbons. They serve not only as merchandise but also as signs of adornment. The exchange between the merchant and the woman can be seen as a transaction, where the ribbons represent a desire for beauty and status. Ter Borch's use of line is not just descriptive, but also conveys a sense of social and economic interplay within this intimate scene.