Vrouw met emmers en een sjaal over haar hoofd, van achteren c. 1650

This drawing was made by Harmen ter Borch in the 17th century with pen in brown ink, brush in brown and gray. Ter Borch's choice of media isn't accidental; it reflects the everyday reality he's capturing. The monochromatic palette lends a sense of solemnity to the woman’s task. The swift, confident strokes suggest that Ter Borch was interested not just in the woman herself, but also in the act of labor. The very physicality of her work is evident in the drawing. We can imagine the weight of those buckets, the strain on her body. It's a reminder of the often-overlooked labor that sustains communities. By using the immediacy of drawing, Ter Borch elevates this scene, inviting us to contemplate the value of labor and the lives of ordinary people. It blurs the line between fine art and the craft of everyday living.