Oude man zittend onder een boom 1624 - 1690

Harmen ter Borch created this drawing of an old man sitting under a tree, with graphite, sometime in the 17th century. The entire composition is defined by a series of brisk, wiry strokes, creating a textured surface that is both visually stimulating and emotionally evocative. The old man's posture, slumped and supported by a walking stick, suggests weariness. Ter Borch uses the tree’s solid form as a structural backdrop, contrasting with the fragile, transient nature of human existence. The tree and figure are interlinked through the artist's active and expressive lines. This small work can be seen as a study in contrasts: between youth and old age, strength and frailty, and the organic and the constructed. By exploring these dichotomies, Ter Borch engages with broader philosophical questions about the human condition and our relationship with the natural world. The drawing prompts us to consider our own place within the cycle of life.