Man die mest op een kar laadt Possibly 1648

This is a drawing by Harmen ter Borch, made in 1648, with pen in brown ink on paper. Here, the artist has chosen the most basic of materials to depict a scene of manual labor. We see a man loading manure onto a cart, pulled by a horse. The pen and ink are humble tools, yet Ter Borch uses them to convey texture and weight. Look at the density of the lines describing the manure itself, compared to the spare rendering of the horse. The drawing speaks to the ever-present reality of labor. This was the foundation of the Dutch Golden Age. The drawing’s matter-of-factness is a testament to Ter Borch's skill, and to the value of honest work, even when dealing with something as unglamorous as manure. By focusing on the real, Ter Borch elevates the everyday. This reminds us that art can be found not just in the finished product, but in the act of making and the lives of ordinary people.