Boerenwoning, schuur en hooischuur buiten Zwolle c. 1631 - 1633

Gerard ter Borch II rendered this ink drawing, “Boerenwoning, schuur en hooischuur buiten Zwolle”, during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when the Netherlands saw unprecedented economic, scientific, and cultural growth. This seemingly simple sketch of rural architecture becomes more complex when viewed through the lens of its historical context. During this time, the Dutch countryside was not just a backdrop but a symbol of national identity and pride. The rise of a wealthy merchant class shifted artistic patronage from the church and aristocracy to private individuals. Borch, known for his genre scenes depicting the lives of the affluent, offers here a rare glimpse into the rural life that sustained the booming cities. One wonders about the lives of the unseen inhabitants of these buildings. Were they landowners, or laborers? How did their daily lives intersect with the economic engines of the city? Borch's drawing invites us to consider the full social tapestry of 17th-century Netherlands, connecting the pastoral with the cosmopolitan.