Interieur van een stal c. 1660 - 1661

"Interieur van een stal" is a drawing in pen in gray ink, made by Moses ter Borch. Ter Borch died young, but his work provides us with a glimpse into 17th-century Dutch life. During this period, the Netherlands experienced its Golden Age, marked by economic prosperity and cultural flourishing. The art of this era often reflected the values and daily life of the Dutch middle class, with a focus on realism and moralizing themes. This interior scene provides insight into the rural settings that supported this burgeoning economy. Ter Borch's choice to depict the interior of a stable may reflect the close relationship between humans and animals in agricultural societies. The simplicity and starkness of the drawing, with its emphasis on the wooden structure and muted tones, evoke a sense of quiet labor and the unglamorous aspects of rural life. While simple, the drawing reminds us that daily life consists of both work and the spaces that sustain it.