Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Vermeer and His Women


During the seventeenth century, there was a shift in the type of paintings that were being created 
in the Netherlands. The Thirty-years war had come to an end and the Netherlands had finally 
gained their independence from Spain. Unlike when they were at war with Spain, the 
Netherlands began to find more interest in their leisure and day-to-day lives. Paintings began to
 represent their domestic values as a cornerstone of an ideal society. According to Majorie 
Wismeaner, “the family and domestic virtue (rather than allegiance to church or monarch) were
 prized as the cornerstone of a successful society, and  indeed became a metaphor for the nation
 itself.”

Vermeer transitioned from painting ordinary and common life to capturing a more elegant and 
refined lifestyle because the wealthy merchant class was more likely to purchase these paintings. 
Still, in all of Vermeer’s paintings we see that in all his depictions of women he gives them grace 
and dignity as well as elevates women who possess the lowliest of stations. He welcomes us to 
view these women in all the different tasks that they perform. Come and see if Vermeer doesn’t 
convey these things to you in the following works here on display. 


 Young Woman with a Water Pitcher 
Artist: Johannes Vermeer 
Date: ca. 1662
Medium: Oil on canvas 18 x 16 in. 
Met: 89.15.21
Vermeer seems to have captured a young woman holding a metallic pitcher and standing in the 
corner of a room. She is surrounded by objects that She is wearing a voluminous white head 
covering that frames her face as it rests delicately on her shoulders. In addition to this she has on
a dark navy blue skirt with a gold and black bodice that gives a bell shape to her body. This and 
the many objects that can be found around her show her elevated status and the dignity that she 
possesses.  


A Maid Asleep 
Johannes Vermeer 
Date: ca. 1656-57
Medium: Oil on canvas 34 1/2 x 30 1/8 in.  
Met: 14.40.611
This piece depicts a maid sitting at a table in a darkened room resting her head in her hand. She 
is surrounded by beautiful things. Tapestries and fruits that show she is a provider and her job is 
essential. This maid represents the ideal in the domestic work that she performs. Even though she 
is in the act of resting she is in a position ready to move or possibly she has finished all her work 
for the day and is resting from the hard days' work. 


Young Woman with a Lute 
Johannes Vermeer 
Date: ca. 1662-63 20 1/4 x 18 in.
Medium: Oil on canvas 
Met:25.110.24
Here we see a young woman in yellow dress, wearing a pearl necklace and earrings playing her 
lute as she looks out her window to the street below. On the wall behind her there is a map of the 
world. The beautiful and expensive things point to the fact that she is wealthy and has time to sit
 and play her lute. During this time, wealthy young women studied music as part of their 
education. These things point to her high status and the dignity that comes with it.

The Milkmaid 
Johannes Vermeer  
Date: c. 1660
Medium: Oil on canvas  h 45.5 cm × w 41 cm
Rijlsmuseum: SK-A-2344
The woman in this painting is a kitchen maid, found in a nearly bare room pouring milk into a 
pot. Her outfit is simple, made for working in. The objects that can be found in the room is a foot 
warmer on the floor behind the woman, a couple of baskets hanging on the wall, and a table with 
a blue table cloth, basket of bread, as well as a jar and pot which the milk is being poured into. 
Her dignity is not given to her because of her class standing, it is given in her domestic virtue that 
is on display.

 
The Lacemaker 
Johannes Vermeer 
Date: 1669-1670
Medium: Oil Paint 9”x 8”
Louvre: no ascension 
Here we see a young woman, dressed in yellow leaning over her lacework concentrating hard on 
the task at hand. To the left of the painting there is a pin cushion that holds her pins. The focus of 
the viewer is on the woman due to the plain wall that is the background. Vermeer's use of light 
draws us in to look at the task that is being performed. This young woman is consumed with the 
domestic task that is placed before her.

  

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