Lopende man die een zak draagt c. 1627 - 1690

This drawing of a man carrying a sack was made by Gerard ter Borch II. He was a Dutch Golden Age painter who lived from 1617 to 1681. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic experienced significant economic growth, and with it a stark disparity between the merchant class and the working class. Ter Borch often depicted members of the bourgeoisie in his paintings, but here we see a man who is likely a laborer, burdened with the weight of his load. The sketch seems to capture a moment of struggle and perseverance. The man's posture suggests the physical demands and social stratification inherent in Dutch society during Ter Borch's time. The artist neither valorizes nor condemns the man's labor, but there is something profound in the fact that he chose to capture it.