Paren in een landschap buiten Zwolle c. 1660s

Gesina ter Borch created this delicate drawing of a group of people in a landscape outside Zwolle, using graphite on paper. The artist’s choice of materials – humble graphite and paper – creates a sense of immediacy. The monochromatic nature of graphite emphasizes the artist’s skill in rendering textures and forms with subtle tonal variations. The visible strokes reveal her artistic process, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Beyond its technical aspects, this drawing holds social significance. Ter Borch made many of these drawings throughout her life; this particular scene offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of 17th-century Dutch society, inviting reflection on the relationship between art, life, and the everyday. It shows us that art can emerge from the simplest materials and processes, blurring boundaries between craft and fine art.