Toren in een landschap c. 1631 - 1633

Gerard ter Borch II created this landscape with a tower using pen and brown ink. Ink drawings like this one, dashed off quickly and efficiently, were essential to the Dutch art market. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of tremendous economic expansion, with a burgeoning middle class eager to acquire art. Artists like Ter Borch were effectively small business owners, churning out works to meet the demand. The stark contrast between the solid geometry of the tower and the sketch-like quality of the surrounding landscape, gives us insight into how these drawings would come to life. The paper support itself is an often overlooked material, but it is a crucial element to the work as the artist engaged with it. Understanding the work's material qualities and the social context in which it was produced allows us to move beyond traditional notions of fine art and appreciate the skill and craftsmanship involved in its creation.