De ontvoering van Lucretia c. 1618 - 1622

"De ontvoering van Lucretia" (The Abduction of Lucretia), a pen-and-ink drawing by Gerard ter Borch, depicts a pivotal moment from Roman history. The drawing, executed in the artist's signature style, captures the dramatic tension of the scene, highlighting the struggle between the attacker and his victim. The composition, with its dynamic lines and expressive figures, evokes a sense of urgency and despair, making the viewer feel the weight of the historical tragedy. Ter Borch, a master of 17th-century Dutch art, employed this small-scale format to explore a subject matter that was popular in the period, exploring themes of virtue, violence, and the vulnerability of women.