Jan Vermeer and the Girl with the Wineglass (1659)
When people think of the Dutch “Masters”, the names that come to their mind most easily are Rembrandt van Ryan and Vincent van Gogh. And rightly so. No question Rembrandt and Vincent were great artists. Outside the rarefied world of art though, the name of Jan Vermeer is, unfortunately, not as familiar. Vermeer is sometimes referred to as the “small” or “lesser” Dutch Master. What are your thoughts on the artistic contribution made by Vermeer within the context of the following statement:
“He brings us, under his mantle, into a world withdrawn from trouble where peace and light, those two great gifts of God which wise men always long for, may be found without limit.” (Thomas Bodkin, found in The Paintings of Jan Vermeer, 1940)
roberttracyphd
Survey of the History of Art II 
Marlo Agunos said,
February 6, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Initial thought is that Vermeer painting gives a calm/serene feeling, the peace that Bodkin talks about. The woman is smiling, as is the man helping her hand up. Lots of soft textures in, for the most part, the center of the painting. The gesture where the man in the middle’s hand is under the woman’s hand seems gentle as well.
Rick C said,
February 8, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Looking ath this gives me the feeling of joy and maybe surprise by the girl. Her glance over her shoulder is like the man is telling her something and she is looking over at the viewer to confirm his comment. The vivid red is almost detracting from the painting as your eyes are first drawn to the dress. This makes the middle of the painting almost dead but, does draw your attention to the girl’s face. The lighting through the stained glass makes it appear as the day is overcast and their is some other form of light from the mid left front some how but, the shading on the tile floor makes that also odd.
Jennifer Grogg said,
February 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Within the context of Bodkin’s statement, I believe that Vermeer has captured a gentle peace that is felt by the viewer. There is no trouble or conflict between the three figures, and all seem to be enjoying themselves, especially the two in the forefront. The light that comes in through the window greatly influences the way I view the painting. The dress the woman wears is very pronounced and my eye goes directly to it. I especially notice how the light hits the folds in the dress and gives a satin, or silky texture. My eye immediatly goes up to her highlighted face and back down to her hand that the man holds. He is gentle in his touch and she looks flattered, but shy as she looks over her shoulder. The checkered floor is also prominant to me in the forefront, but as it goes back, the resolution fades in the distance. The painting in the background is also dark and non-descript.
Kenneth Nanez said,
February 10, 2010 at 4:09 am
Vermeer’s paintings seem to evoke a more calming reaction. They are absolutely stunning, but it is a different kind of emotion. It is an emotion that does not brew an inner storm but more a calm rain. This may be why he is known as the “lesser” Dutch Master, he does not invoke strong emotion, but calming serenity.
Gracie Wingert said,
February 10, 2010 at 6:17 pm
The painting does seem pretty calm and peaceful. The woman is smiling and the amount of light in the painting isn’t too intense, nor is it too weak. When one looks closer though the painting appears to have more to it. The man in th background is either sad or just plain bored, I can’t tell. This makes me wonder why. Maybe the woman’s happiness needs to be offset by the man’s melancholy. I also feel like there is some kind of story behind this painting. It seems like the man in the middle is trying to gain the woman’s favor and the woman leaves the man in the back for her suitor. That story line is the opposite of peaceful though, maybe my interpretation is off.
Morgen Henry said,
February 11, 2010 at 12:37 am
This particular painting slightly reminds me of his other work, The Girl With the Pearl Earring. The lighting between the two is the same with both direction and exposure to the figures. Also, the women both turn there head slightly to their left and facially express a certain secret and fragility. When the viewer first sees this painting, the woman in the right-middle radiates due to her bright red dress. Then the viewer notices the man on her right whispering some kind of secret in her ear. Obviously, Vermeer is expressing a quiet flirtation through the man’s body language and also how the girl is reacting to his behavior. From her view, the woman is expressing a sort of amusment and acceptance. The man in the corner seems bored, but seems as though he has to stay and witness the annoying flirtation between the man and the woman.
Brandon Jackson said,
February 12, 2010 at 11:04 pm
In consonance with the quote by Thomas Bodkin, the Dutch Masters – Rembrandt van Ryan and Vincent van Gogh – are inscribed as such because of their loud and intense compositions, while on the contrary, Vermeer isn’t as notorious as the infamous Dutch Masters because his paintings are neither as loud nor intense; they are generally mundane but serene at the same time, depending on one’s idiosyncratic interpretation. I think his paintings are very ordinary but different because they all tell a different story, a story that isn’t appealing to the eyes, a story of everyday life and the monotony of it all. I feel that Vermeer expressed himself in his dreary paintings in such a way by exemplifying how tedious life was, whether one was washing, studying, greeting, engaging in domestic labor, and other ordinary activities while one was alienated by a daily schedule from their own lone desires.
amandasharetts said,
February 13, 2010 at 12:25 am
i think maybe bodkin is saying that vermeer is able to express beauty that is in his little world. considering that vermeer mostly likely stayed in deflt his entire life, Bodkin is suggesting that Vermeer was somewhat sheltered from other worldly disasters and miseries that other places have faced.
Keslee Thorne said,
February 16, 2010 at 2:48 pm
i believe that vemeer knew exactly what he was doing. he seemed to love the “natural light” look in all of his paintings, because he used a window for lighting in more than all of his works. i’m having trouble though wondering if he was limited to the window and lighting, and picture of some sort on the wall in the background. its almost as if his subjects weren’t interesting enough so he used a picture in the background and a window to look out of the make his work more interesting. as for the lighting being beautiful, its dead on. he worked with the light and shadows as if his hand were a camera. i like his work it actually gave me some ideas of composition in my photography.
Cristina Sanchez said,
February 18, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I think that the reason that Vermeer’s painting are considered so peaceful and depict a world with no trouble is because of the content and use of light. He chooses to paint ordinary people in their everyday setting. LIght filters through the window, falling on the subjects that help create a soft mood. However, I don’t feel that this picture is quite as peaceful. The woman is turned away from the man and is facing the viewer. She has detached herself from the situation while maintaining to be aware of it. I can’t tell if her smile suggests that she is in control of the situation or unsure of her emotions. For example, is she smiling because she the man in the palm of her hand and he doesn’t even know it or is she a victim of his seduction and becomes shy. Yes the ligting and the setting suggest a neutral mood, but looking at the relationshiop betweent the subjects is not as “peaceful” , there is a little more going on. Not much more, but there are some hidden stories.
Rogina Cobb said,
February 26, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I agree. Looking at the painting, I definitely agree that it is hiding some ominous meaning or unnerving secrets. While the image is painted beautifully and peacefully because of the window, play of light, and soft, neutral colors (beside the bright red of the woman’s dress), The way the man in the background is sitting in darkness next to the blurred portrait, and the way the man’s face who’s courting the woman is cast in shadow, gives a sense that something is about to happen; the calm before the storm.
The woman is the most prominent figure with her red dress and how close she is to the viewer. Her smile is playful and carefree, but she is not in the center of the painting as we would expect. Instead our eyes travel up her left arm and over to her right arm where we are lead to the dark, blurred portrait in the background. I feel there is more meaning to the portrait than we are led to believe (with it being unfocused), because if there wasn’t a reason for us to see and questioning the portrait, then Vermeer would never have bothered to paint it.
Every object that a painter takes their time and effort to render in a painting is important in some way. Looking at the portrait and the shadowed face of the man courting the woman makes me feel nervous, as if the shadows are foreshadowing a death or a murder.
Cheuk Sham said,
February 19, 2010 at 12:34 am
Judging by the color temperature of the lighting from the window, I assume it is a cloudy or rainy day. Vermeer controls the lighting in an interesting way and makes the overall painting beautiful and comfortable to look at, even though the red is so strong that it becomes the focal point. I like how Vermeer composes the painting by adding another man in the background and thus tells a complete different story.
Erin Phelps said,
March 1, 2010 at 7:30 am
In this painting, Vermeer brings us into a moment that is pleasant and joyful. The facial expression on the woman is that of someone who is seemingly feeling charmed and experiencing a moment of happiness. The man who is holding up the woman’s hand looks as though he has just kissed her hand and he looks joyful as well as his gaze is cast on the woman’s expression of delight. I feel as though Vermeer captures moments of time that are peaceful and accentuates them using light and softness with great skill, and as Bodkin suggests these moments in time are a gift of God wise men long for. Vermeer is great at capturing these kind of moments.
Jessica Lee said,
March 3, 2010 at 4:47 am
I think the statement made of Vermeer definitely defines his paintings. His pieces might seem simple and not as creative but that’s what’s so creative about it. He takes the most limitless and simple things in life and paints a masterpiece with them. The motions and activities in his pieces are nothing special but that’s what makes them so peaceful looking. He uses light in a way where he illuminates the exact points of the paintings where he wants the audiences’ eyes to seek.
Colin Geal said,
March 8, 2010 at 12:10 am
This in typical Vermeer style, with the open window light source, is truely remarkable. The womans vivid dress stands out in a singular subject fashion. This captures your eye first of course, which then leads you to the man who seems to be captured in her essence. The man in the corner is a mystery however, maybe a past lover of this woman or maybe just a drunken aristocrat in the back? Either way Vermeer is a genius at leading you to certain spots of his painting and is an incredible tool for training the imagination.
Lisette Wallace said,
March 10, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I believe Vermeer painted in a very humble way and the statement represents his work very well. His pieces are simple but if there were any more added in, it might look like too much is going on. I enjoy the lighting in his paintings. Being a photographer I know how important light is and the amazing things it can do to make a picture so much more interesting. Vermeer paints in this very elegant way and is consistent with his work.
Vaughn Meldrum said,
April 17, 2010 at 8:43 pm
The unitly and harmony that Vermeer consistently achieved is absolutely astounding to me, but I also feel that this is one of the reasons he is generally not considered one of the greater Dutch masters. But, whenever I see a piece by Vermeer I immediately think of Salvador Dali and his absolute infatuation with Vermeer’s The Lacemaker.
Brie Kelley said,
April 28, 2010 at 6:10 am
I think that what Bodkin said about Vermeer’s work was interesting, and I do agree.”He brings us under his mantle”, I think what he means by this is that Vermeer allows us into the world of the painting. With the playful glace of the lady, you feel involved and interested in what is taking place. Bodkin also talks about the peace and light that Vermeer brings. I think of this as the lighting used to highlight different areas of the composition,and showing the beautiful detail in the fabric of the lady’s red dress. The figures also seem peaceful and clam, with a pleasant and endearing charm.
Juan Brucelas said,
April 30, 2010 at 6:28 pm
The reason why I think Vermeer was considered a lesser dutch master compared to Van Gough and Rembrandt is that he didn’t revolutionize anything dramatically in the art world. When looking at a Van Gough he represents an age that he as highly skilled in, Post Impressionsim. With Rembrandt it was the Baroque. Its not to say that Vermeer wasn’t highly skilled artist, because he was. His attention to detail, his playng with the light, but his usage of lighting wasn’t as manipulative and dramatic as Rembrandt’s. This is why I could see Vermeer wasn’t considered a higher Dutch master. Rather than displaying anything revolutionary, he did an excellent job in fact capturng in what Thomas Bodkin called “peace and light”.
ashleymariehill said,
April 30, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Like many of his colleagues, Jan Vermeer specialized in painting scenes from everyday life. He usually focused his attention on images of women, usually engaged in quiet domestic activities in light-filled rooms. He painted images of everyday life in such a way as to encourage viewers to remark on their own life experiences when viewing his pictures. In making his painting so lifelike, Vermeer may have tried to create effects he saw in an optical device called a camera obscura (Italian for “dark chamber). A camera obscura creates an image when light entering a darkened box through a tiny hole is focused upon the opposite interior surface by means of a convex lens. I have noticed this technique in his other paintings as well. Camera obscura is also characterized by intense colors and heightened contrasts of light and dark. The presence of these effects in Vermeer’s paintings demonstrates that he was familiar with the optical device.
The painting itself is in interesting one, my eyes are drawn right away to the girl. Her expressive face is a atypical one seen in many of Vermeer’s other paintings. I believe he likes to convey hidden emotions through his subjects little gestures and through the nature of their activities. In any case, rather than looking at the man who is talking to her the girl turns her head towards us the viewer. I believe scenes of men swooning over woman was a common one for the time only to have the man be turned away, it’s a theme of unrequited love. The girl obviously isn’t very interested in her suitor but she doesn’t seem to mind. She has this mischievous look on her face, she seems almost amused at the situation she’s in. Overall the images itself seem like a boring one, there’s a girl at a table with wine and there are two men with her. But the little gestures in the hands face and the colors and technique are all very interesting to me. They help bring life to the overall mundane subject matter.
Emily Wutz said,
May 2, 2010 at 2:31 am
I agree that Vermeer’s painting’s bring a sense of peace and light. He follows a specific pattern in his paintings, allowing light to penetrate the room through an open window on the left. Often times he uses a black and white checkered floor to pull the viewer into the scene and a painting or tapestry in the background to demonstrate the knowledge of the patron. In this painting the woman stands out, her red dress calls attention to the foreground. She is an a very formal static pose, and her dress overlaps the canvas. The man in the background seems a bit stand-offish, perhaps he is a chaperone or he is hurt by the fact the man in the foreground is coercing with the woman. There is a relief of formality by the creation of a serene still life. This painting does in fact bring a sense of calm.
Bryant Nguyen said,
May 3, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Vermeer paintings are exceptionally done and very enjoyable to view. Although his paintings had the saem layout, the things described in his paintings were never really the same. I really like the attention to detail he gives each of his paintings. I agree with the statement. his paintings there is never a conflict or problem and the light shining through gives a positive vibe.
Marlene Siu said,
May 4, 2010 at 3:27 am
Vermeer’s depictions of everyday life,unheroic, uneventful, just peaceful and serene are important contributions to the artistic world. These intimate portraits of everyday life give us a window into the lives of ordinary people. Importance and beauty does not necessarily have to be measured through grand events sometimes it is the capturing of an intimate moment shared between a few that makes the most beautiful painting. It is the peaceful everyday moments that we can relate to.
Sophia McMahan said,
May 5, 2010 at 2:54 am
Thomas Bodkin realized the worth of Jan Vermeer’s paintings. His quotation describes the eloquent simplicity and extreme detail of his work. Vermeer may not have been as successful as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, but his contribution is just as significant. Vermeer was able to transcend time into a harmonic still, a perfect moment captured in a flash of light. This tale of courtship was a prominent subject for many Dutch painters throughout history.
Jan Vermeer and the Woman with the Wineglass (1659) | Ragnarok Connection said,
July 9, 2014 at 3:53 am
[…] Base from: Survey of the History of Art II […]