Ruïne van Huis Kranenburg c. 1633 - 1634

Gerard ter Borch the Younger created this drawing of the Ruïne van Huis Kranenburg using pen and brown ink with a brush in grey. Borch lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement for the Dutch Republic, but also a time marked by social hierarchies. While Borch gained acclaim for his detailed genre paintings of the wealthy merchant class, this drawing offers a glimpse into a different aspect of his artistic practice. We see the skeletal remains of a building, rendered with stark lines. The ruin might symbolize a contemplation on the transience of power and material wealth. The intimate scale of the drawing invites a personal connection. Borch's choice to depict a ruin, rather than a grand, intact structure, suggests a sensitivity to themes of decay and loss. This artwork may evoke feelings of melancholy, inviting us to reflect on the cyclical nature of history.