Twee vrouwen zittend op een bank 1650

Harmen ter Borch created this drawing of two women on a bench using graphite, sometime in the 17th century. The artist employed the medium of graphite to define the scene through tonal variation and surface texture. The granular nature of the material becomes apparent in the darker regions, achieved through layering and pressure, while the lighter areas reveal the tooth of the paper. This technique creates a sense of volume and depth, bringing the figures to life. The composition is as much about what’s included as what’s left out. The women are sitting on a simple bench, with what looks like knitting materials in their laps. We are left to wonder about their relationship, their social status, and the narratives of labor and domesticity embedded in their actions. By focusing on the textures, weight, and tones achieved through simple drawing materials, the artist elevated this everyday scene. It challenges the traditional hierarchy that separates "high art" from the materials and processes of everyday life, reminding us of the social and economic context in which art is created and viewed.