Vrouw met manden, van achteren Possibly 1653

This drawing, made around 1653 by Moses ter Borch, is executed with a reed pen and brown ink on paper. Ter Borch's quick strokes are not just a technique, but a way of seeing, capturing the essence of everyday life. Note the figure's stance, burdened by the weight of the baskets. The rough, sketch-like quality of the lines mimics the coarse texture of labor, a stark contrast to the refined techniques often associated with fine art. The figure is seen from behind; Ter Borch is concerned not with the individual, but with the anonymous experience of work. In its time, the drawing would have been considered a study – a preparation for a more elaborate artwork. But by giving value to the everyday, Ter Borch elevates the status of labor, suggesting that the process of making – whether drawing or carrying – is a subject worthy of attention. It reminds us that the material and social world are always intertwined.