Analyze This! #6 Vermeer Woman Holding a Balance

[Elankat]

From Artarchive:

Jan Vermeer
(1632-1675)

Dutch painter. He specialized in domestic interiors, portraits and city views. His entire life was spent in Delft, where, it has been suggested, he may have been trained by Leonaert Bramer or Carel Fabritius. His work does indeed show an affinity with that of Fabritius, but their relationship remains uncertain. Vermeer was a Master in the Delft painters' guild from 1653, was elected Dean (hoofdman) in 1662-3 and 1670-71, and was highly regarded in his lifetime, although he seems to have never been particularly wealthy, leaving his wife and 11 children in debt at his death. His name and reputation were almost forgotten until 1866 when the art critic Thoré Burger published an essay attributing 66 pictures to him (only 34 paintings are firmly attributed to him today). The few contemporary references to his paintings all relate to surviving works, so it is unlikely that there were ever many more - he may have been a slow worker and probably (like many Dutch painters of this period) had another source of income - a trip to The Hague in 1672 to authenticate some paintings suggests that he may have been a picture dealer.

Woman Holding a Balance is a masterful work. It's composition is such that moving any single element would unbalance the painting. On the surface, it seems to be a straightforward subject, but closer inspection reveals much deeper meaning in its visual dialogue. Have fun with this one!

Spoiler: For those who'd rather read about it than look at it, an in depth analysis can be found here: http://www.nga.gov/feature/vermeer/

[bjs0704]

Great Choice, Elankat!

The light in this painting makes it one of my all time favorites.

I look forward to reading the others posts.

Barb Solomon

[Alan Cross]

Well its easy to see he was not shipping these out ever day the detail is amazing what strikes me is the painting on the wall....I try to get closer to see more of whats going on there......also she looks a bit pregy....
Alan

[Biki]

Originally Posted by Alan Cross

Well its easy to see he was not shipping these out ever day the detail is amazing what strikes me is the painting on the wall....I try to get closer to see more of whats going on there......also she looks a bit pregy....
Alan

The woman may be his wife during one of her many pregnancies. He also has a pregnant woman in "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter"

Question:
What is that shape on the floor under the table.?

here is a larger version of this painting:
http://www.artrenewal.org/images/art..._a_Balance.jpg

[Alan Cross]

LOL thats it....the wife would be a good model for a poor artist....the floor to me looks just like a checkerboard of lino....is that what you mean?
Alan

[Alan Cross]

Also with having 11 kids this is the way he would have seen her for most of the time.....what a life for her....anyone know what she is using the scales for ? Cooking maybe....
Alan

[Elankat]

The painting in the background depicts Christ at the Last Judgement. The shape under the table is the shadowed tile floor.

If no one minds, why don't we start with the color choices and composition. What choices did Vermeer make and how do they contribute to the overall mood of the piece?

[Biki]

Originally Posted by Alan Cross

Also with having 11 kids this is the way he would have seen her for most of the time.....what a life for her....anyone know what she is using the scales for ? Cooking maybe....
Alan

I would say gold coins.

[Biki]

Originally Posted by Alan Cross

....the floor to me looks just like a checkerboard of lino....is that what you mean?
Alan

No - it's that curly bit right next to the table leg. I can't figure it out.

[Alan Cross]

I see that curly bit not sure what it is....as for the colors he used I like the somber tones to dull the bulk of the painting then the window to add the light just on the right spots....

[Biki]

Originally Posted by Elankat

If no one minds, why don't we start with the color choices and composition. What choices did Vermeer make and how do they contribute to the overall mood of the piece?

I would love that. I am waiting for someone to show me.

But I can tell you what I love initially.

I love how he works the light ( I always do with Vermeer)

I love the way the whole composition dances.

I love the way the curve of the belly comes up & meets the shadow on the headscarf in a natural curve.

I love the way he got the subtle reflection on the wall.

[bjs0704]

I found a nice website on Vermeer. It goes into quite a bit of depth about him and has a whole page about his palette.

http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/index.htm

This site says that he used a warm monochrome underpainting.

This would give make a very unified composition, with a warm intimate feeling. He would be concentrating on the lights and darks. It wouldn't be until later he added the bright colors that he did use.

At that time, artist didn't yet have as wide a selection of colors as we do today.

Barb Solomon

[Elankat]

To answer the questions above, the curling item is the leg of the valet/jewelry stand that is behind the table. The diagonals are the shadowed floor. The dark mass to the far left is a black velvety cloth that is bunched up and also draping off the table. On the table and valet are pearls and gold coins. The balance is empty.

All of this goes to the context as meaning. If possible, I'd like us to explore some technical elements of the piece, such as composition and color. Then, eventually move on to other more complex elements such as the light and the meaning of subject matter. It's a fairly complex painting and I think if we all direct our observation to certain parts, it will be easier to follow the discussions.

Of course, it doesn't need to be done that way. I'm just trying to do what I can to make sure the painting truly gets analyzed.

Originally Posted by bjs0704

This site says that he used a warm monochrome underpainting.

This would give make a very unified composition, with a warm intimate feeling. He would be concentrating on the lights and darks. It wouldn't be until later he added the bright colors that he did use.

At that time, artist didn't yet have as wide a selection of colors as we do today.

Barb Solomon

But also notice that the painting is mostly cool, neutral tones. Only the red peeking out at the woman's belly is warm. I'd agree that the warm undertones definitely provide intimacy.

Questions for the group:

What mood does the palette create?
Why would he chose to place the warm at the belly?
What differences do you observe in the choice of shapes and forms?
How do you perceive the composition...what is the eye path?

[Biki]

Originally Posted by Elankat

Questions for the group:

What mood does the palette create?
Why would he chose to place the warm at the belly?
What differences do you observe in the choice of shapes and forms?
How do you perceive the composition...what is the eye path?

Great questions - i will have a go at it.

The mood is cozy & peaceful. It is a cool day, as the lady is dressed warmly - tho the sun is shining thru the window.

In the coolness of the day - the warm belly depicts life/love/light? for the unborn child.

I'll pass on the shapes and forms, as i know nothing. All I know is for some reason the composition works. I will say again that I love the figure 8 in the flow of the woman's belly & her head.

the eye path for me = belly - head - down to her arm holding the balance - tripping over the jewels & over the green cloth - up to the light of the window - the accross to the painting on the wall.

how did i do?

[budblues]

I get the feeling of gloom. The painting is rather dark & gloomy perhaps part of the meaning of the Last Judgement painting in the background. Half of the painting is very dark (lower left) while the upper part of the painting is light (perhaps good and evil). Also seems to be divided in half on the diagonal. The warm at the belly I would say represents life, goodness. It's almost as if the sunlight from the curtain is shining right down on it. The shapes I see are 3 circles formed from the small circular halo around the figure in the painting, the woman's head and her belly. Then I see the 3 diamond patterns in the floor perhaps balancing the picture. My eyepath seeems to be the woman's face down to her belly across to the scale & jewelery up to the light coming through the window and acroos to the painting. kind of in a triangular pattern.

bud