Zittende boer met flambard op, in profiel c. 1656 - 1657

Moses ter Borch created this drawing, "Seated Farmer with a Plumed Hat, in Profile," using graphite, likely in the Netherlands during the mid-17th century. Drawings like this one offer a glimpse into the social dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age. The image is not just a portrait; it's a study of social class. The farmer’s clothing, particularly the flamboyant hat, hints at a complex relationship between rural life and emerging urban fashions. The institutional context is interesting too: artists like ter Borch were increasingly working outside traditional guilds, creating art for a growing open market. To fully understand this work, we need to consider the economic structures of the time, the status of the Dutch farmer, and the rising merchant class. The Rijksmuseum's archives, along with period documents, offer rich resources for deeper exploration of these social dynamics.