Baroque Art in the Dutch Republic
Vermeer's Young Woman with a Water Pitcher
Johannes Vermeer, Young Woman with a Water Pitcher, oil on canvas, c. 1662
(Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Beth Harris
Where and When
Delft, Holland
c. 1662
c. 1662
Check this out as well
Web Feature: Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance (National Gallery, Washington, D.C.)
Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance (video from the National Gallery, Washington, D.C.)
Your Comments (2)
Previous Comments
Angelique Nehmzow wrote on Saturday, April 03, 2010
The following links you posted were really wonderful thank you! - In-depth study: Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance - Vermeer's The Music Lesson
Sarah C wrote on Tuesday, March 05, 2013
I have always found Vermeer’s work fascinating, yet challenging. It is hard for me to look at this painting with anything other than a Feminist perspective. Everything about this painting screams “classic example of a domestic woman.†As mentioned in the video, the woman is shown opening a window, perhaps about to water some flowers. The video also draws attention to her dainty hands, symbolizing femininity. She is in solitude, although it seems like a faint smile is crossing her lips. I believe that Vermeer’s intention was to portray a woman who is in love with the domestic. I find that the video romanticizes this notion by talking about a renewed love for the everyday, a love for the beauty around us, finding the divinity in everyday tasks. Instead, I find it impossible to ignore the fact that even her clothing envelops her, literally subduing her character even more than already possible. Although I find myself intrigued by Vermeer’s work, I cannot help but compare this painting with 1950’s advertisements portraying good, domestic, housewives in love with their new vacuums.
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