Jan Vermeer

Jan Vermeer was a Dutch painter of the Baroque period. He was not tremendously famous during his lifetime. And was even forgotten for two hundred years after his death, when around 1860 an art critic made him popular. Vermeer’s paintings are clear, simple and charming. Not much is known about Vermeer. He was an inn keeper, art dealer and painter. Because of this busy schedule and short life he has only 35 paintings. He was lucky enough to be born in the 17th century when Dutch art was blooming. Religious art was banned in Holland for a period. So, artists turned to painting interiors and some landscapes for the rich. Vermeer is most famous for his interior work. He painted everyday life in Holland.

It is easy to tell Vermeer’s painting because of his ability to capture light. That ability to capture light is his signature. He often included women in his paintings. He was able to capture the female mind with all its feelings and secrets and reveal it on canvas.

This is a quiet inward-looking painting, a table and curtain separate us from the well-dressed young woman reading a letter. The large green curtain may be intended as part of the scene, or has a physical curtain to cover it. This enclosure and separation provide intimacy. She is alone in an unguarded moment, unviolated by the intrusion of the viewer.

There is a bowl of apples and peaches, reminding us of Eve's Fall. The window is open, representing her desire to escape her duties as a housewife. There is a red curtain pulled back from the window: red is the color of love. She looks engrossed in the letter which could be from her illicit lover.

Take note of the highlights in the woman's hair and sleeve. It shows Vermeer's use of impasto paint to highlight.

Vermeer’s ability to capture intricate details has been attributed to his use of a camera obscura. This box with a hole on one side allowed light to project a scene on a paper to be traced. Color still has to be integrated by the artist and Vermeer’s ability to capture light is magnificent. His use of this camera obscura shows the relationship between art and science.

The woman stands between a picture of the Last Judgment in the background and a table covered with jewelry representing material possessions. The empty scale stresses that she is balancing spiritual rather than material considerations. Vermeer's point is that we should lead lives of moderation with full understanding of the consequences of a final judgment.

Jan Vermeer died at the age of 43 in 1656. Vermeer's are it truly appreciated today.