Socrates en Xantippe 1765

Jan Tersteeg created this drawing, "Socrates en Xantippe", in the 18th century. The monochrome of pale pencil strokes gives a ghost-like texture to the figures, set against a lightly sketched architectural background, which evokes a sense of antiquity and moral scrutiny. Notice how the artist uses linear perspective to create depth. This places the characters within a confined space, heightening the tension of the domestic scene. The delicate lines of Tersteeg's drawing style, typical of academic training, emphasize form and contour over dramatic expression. The artist uses line not just to define shapes but to suggest the emotional weight of the moment: Socrates stands passively, his face almost serene, while his wife Xantippe seems to be expelling water. The structure here, using linear economy to express an emotional exchange, invites us to consider the artwork not only as a historical scene but also as a reflection on domestic and intellectual discord.