Heilige Dominicus Guzman c. 1656 - 1657

Editor: Here we have Moses ter Borch’s pencil sketch, *Heilige Dominicus Guzman,* from about 1656-1657. The lines are light, almost tentative, and the figure appears contemplative. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Formally, the dominance of vertical strokes is notable. The sketch exhibits an assured hand in the rendering of light and shadow through delicate gradations of tone. Observe how ter Borch masterfully utilizes the texture of the paper to evoke a sense of depth and volume, all with a medium as simple as pencil. The interplay between the hatched lines and blank space is also of particular interest. Editor: It's interesting that you focus on the relationship between the hatched lines and the blank spaces, and how that relates to light. Do you think those formal elements can also suggest something about the subject itself? Curator: Undeniably. Note the economy of line, how few strokes are employed to describe form. Is it perhaps reflective of the subject’s austerity? The texture contributes greatly to the overall ethereal, perhaps even unfinished quality. Editor: I see what you mean! The open areas, combined with those very precise lines, give the figure a kind of otherworldly feel, despite being such a simple sketch. Curator: Precisely. How might the artist be using composition to tell a larger narrative, to express emotions or spiritual qualities through pure form? Editor: I’ve always thought about how art can reflect emotion through color and figurative depictions, but never considered how the actual *application* of materials creates just as much impact. Thanks for showing me a new way to read images! Curator: Likewise. It's the close observation of these inherent elements that unlocks richer meanings and allows us to appreciate ter Borch's artistic skill.