Vervallen woning aan de Grote Aa te Zwolle c. 1631 - 1633

This sketch of a dilapidated house on the Grote Aa in Zwolle was made by Gerard ter Borch the Younger, likely sometime in the mid-17th century. The artist used delicate strokes of pen and ink on paper to capture the scene. It’s fascinating how Ter Borch’s choice of materials—simple, portable, and immediate—contrasts with the subject. Here, the house is rendered in decay. The visible wooden beams and crumbling facade of the house hint at a story of neglect, possibly reflecting the economic hardships faced by some during the Dutch Golden Age. The sketch emphasizes the texture and form of the building, achieved through the skilled application of lines to create depth and shadow. It is a social document as much as an aesthetic one, pointing to the economic conditions that shape our built environment. The work is a reminder that even a humble sketch can reveal layers of meaning when we consider the materials, techniques, and social context in which it was created.