Herberg aan een landweg c. 1634 - 1635

Gerard ter Borch sketched this "Herberg aan een landweg" with pen in the 17th-century Netherlands, a period marked by significant economic and social change. This drawing offers us a glimpse into the social landscape of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the burgeoning merchant class redefined notions of leisure and travel. Public houses and roadside inns became vital social spaces, fostering commerce and community. Ter Borch's choice of subject matter reflects the growing interest in everyday life among Dutch artists. The unidealized depiction of the inn, with its suggestion of unpretentious comfort, aligns with the broader cultural shift toward valuing the ordinary. To fully understand the drawing, we can draw upon period maps, travelers' accounts, and even innkeepers' inventories. The image invites us to examine the social function of such establishments and their role in shaping Dutch identity during a time of unprecedented prosperity and social mobility.