Drie eenden aan de waterkant 1640 - 1677

Anthonie van Borssom, a Dutch artist, sketched "Three Ducks on the Water's Edge" with pen and brown ink in the 17th century. The Dutch Golden Age saw artists like Van Borssom turning to everyday life, imbuing it with a quiet dignity. But let's consider who gets to decide what is elevated and what remains mundane. The scene presents three ducks, seemingly undisturbed by the world. There’s a tension in how we view these animals. Are they simply part of the landscape, or are they stand-ins for something more? Perhaps they are a mirror reflecting our own search for tranquility. This drawing invites us to consider our relationship with the natural world, and to reflect on the simple moments of existence. What does it mean to find beauty and value in the ordinary, and who is afforded the luxury of such contemplation?