Schets voor Verkondiging aan de herders c. 1660

This sketch by Moses ter Borch, created around 1660, depicts a scene from the biblical story of the Annunciation to the Shepherds. The drawing, executed in charcoal, outlines the figures of the shepherds reacting to the angel's message with wonder and awe. The composition, characterized by its loose and gestural lines, captures the artist's initial exploration of the scene, foreshadowing a more finished work. This study is a testament to the creative process of ter Borch, a prominent artist of the Dutch Golden Age, whose short but impactful career tragically ended in 1667.