Christus voedt de menigte c. 1620 - 1630

Gerard ter Borch sketched "Christus voedt de menigte" using pen in brown and brush in brown and gray. Ter Borch lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands. This drawing depicts a scene from the Gospels, where Christ feeds a multitude with only a few loaves of bread and fish. The figures are rendered with a remarkable degree of realism. The artist pays attention to the clothing and the postures of the people. What strikes me most is how Ter Borch captures a moment of communal experience. In this drawing we can see a story about faith, compassion, and the shared human experience of receiving and giving. While rooted in a religious narrative, this work reflects the values of community and social responsibility, values that resonate across different beliefs. This scene reminds us of our shared humanity, and the importance of looking after one another, regardless of our backgrounds.