His technique relied on a balance between human figures and their surroundings. In Twee kinderen bij een graf and Na de Doop, Ten Kate focuses on the emotional state of his subjects through posture and placement. He avoided the stiff formality of earlier Dutch portraiture. Instead, he favoured naturalistic settings where light defines the mood of the scene. This approach made his work popular among the 19th-century middle class who sought art that reflected daily life.

Modern collectors appreciate Ten Kate for the quiet narrative quality of his compositions. His prints offer a window into 19th-century Dutch social history without the heavy-handed moralising common in Victorian art. Works like Boerderij gered possess a timeless quality that suits contemporary homes. The combination of historical accuracy and soft atmosphere allows these pieces to function as both conversation starters and calming visual elements in a room.