The Story behind these Vermeer Prints

Vermeer (1632-1675) is one of the most well-renowned artists from the Dutch Golden Age. He was born in Delft which was a thriving hub for artists and most famously known for ‘delft ware’ which is a style of blue and white ceramics. His father was a silk weaver and art dealer, and at 20 years old Vermeer inherited the family business after his father’s death. The details of his training are still unknown, but he may have been self-taught. He was greatly inspired by Baroque artists such as Rembrandt and Caravaggio, using high-contrast chiaroscuro throughout his style.

Vermeer’s painting technique used points of illumination to highlight fabric textures and the facial expressions of his muses, for instance in The Milkmaid and Girl with a Pearl Earring. He enjoyed depicting scenes from inside the home, including the studies of scientists and philosophers of the time. The Astronomer captures a man clutching his astronomical globe, which highlights the fascination with scientific discoveries during the 17th century.

There are multiple modern-day theories that Vermeer used optical tools to perfect the dimensions and reflections in his paintings. He may have used lens artefacts to accomplish sophisticated fields of depth. Whether or not tools were used, that concept does not take away from the immense beauty of his paintings. He lived during the tail-end of the Golden Age, a time filled with enlightenment and curiosity, including the invention of the microscope and telescope. The year 1672 was an infamous time of disaster, in which the art industry crashed and there were multiple ongoing wars causing havoc on the economy. Vermeer became financially desperate and unfortunately died at the age of 43, a few days after he supposedly experienced a psychotic break. Although he died young and only completed 50 paintings during his life, he has gone on to be renowned as one of the most talented artists throughout history and his exquisite work continues to be exhibited across the world.