Vrouw met een rek en een vrouw met een mand c. 1652

This small drawing, made by Harmen ter Borch in the latter half of the 17th century, offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of women in that era. Executed in delicate pen and brown ink, with a subtle grey wash on paper, the artist sketched two figures engaged in seemingly mundane tasks: one carrying a rack, possibly for drying laundry, and the other with a basket. The artist’s choice of medium is crucial; the immediacy of ink on paper lends the scene a sense of informality, as if captured in a fleeting moment. These were the tools of study, of observation. The seemingly effortless lines belie the skill required to convey form and movement with such economy. Consider the social context: laundry and basket-work were typically women’s work. Ter Borch elevates these ordinary tasks, transforming them into a subject worthy of artistic attention. The drawing reminds us that art can be found not only in grand narratives but also in the quiet dignity of daily life. It challenges any strict separation between the fine arts and the crafts of everyday existence.