Drie mannen in een legerkamp c. 1634 - 1635

Gerard ter Borch made this drawing of three men in a military camp using graphite on paper. Graphite is a relatively common material, but the way it is applied here is telling. Look at the way ter Borch has created the image. The lines are quick and energetic. The pressure of the graphite on the page varies, giving the image a sense of depth and volume. Rather than using graphite to create a highly finished image, the artist used it here as a tool for quickly capturing a scene, a sense of a moment. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was often at war, both on land and at sea. The military was a major part of Dutch society, and it makes sense that artists like ter Borch would find inspiration in the everyday lives of soldiers. We see here the material, graphite, used to capture the lives of working-class individuals, the soldiers. The artist's process is what gives this work its power.