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Vermeer and the Delft School
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Description
It appears likely that this late work by Vermeer and the picture hanging beside it on display in the exhibition (Young Woman Standing at a Virginal, 1670–72; The National Gallery, London) were painted as a pair. Here, a demure young woman sits in a shadowy space, while the other painting depicts a woman of more reserved demeanor in a sunlit interior. The paintings on the walls and on the lids of the virginals in both paintings reinforce the impression that the two women would have represented alternatives in the eyes of the contemporary male viewer. The idle viol in the left foreground hints at an invitation to male companionship and the version of Dirck van Baburen's Procuress (1622; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) behind suggests the ease with which it could be attained.
Vermeer underscores meaning with distinctions in style. The dark interior of Woman Seated is bold and the color lively throughout, with showy patterns on the tapestry, virginal, and picture frame and in the highlights on the dress. The open angle of the walls and soft shadows draw in the viewer. In contrast, the brightly lit Young Woman Standing at a Virginal relies on upright geometry, restrained palette, and precise shadows complemented by the woman's expression and pose to convey its more restrained appeal.
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Description