Nachtstuk: echtpaar lopend achter een vrouw met een lantaarn, van achteren c. 1655

Gesina ter Borch made this scene, "Nachtstuk: echtpaar lopend achter een vrouw met een lantaarn, van achteren" with pen and brown ink. The choice of sepia tones gives the work a nocturnal feel, emphasizing the theme of walking at night. Ink drawings like this were relatively simple to produce, requiring only ink, a pen, and paper. Ter Borch uses the medium to great effect, creating depth through layered strokes and washes. The texture of the paper itself plays a crucial role, as the ink settles into the fibers, creating subtle variations in tone and density. This adds to the atmospheric quality of the piece. Note how the figures and forms emerge from the darkness, defined by the light cast from the lantern. The artist also conveys the social context of 17th-century life, hinting at the reliance on manual labor and the communal aspects of navigating the night. Ter Borch elevates this everyday scene to a work of art.