Why do so many people love the art of Johannes Vermeer?

It is the title of my latest video on YouTube (see the link in my bio). In the video, I share what I believe are the three main reasons for Vermeer's appeal to many:

1) His works invite us to ask questions about the characters and situations depicted.

2) His works show an exceptional harmony and balance.

3) He incorporated light like no one before.

The works shown here are from left to right: The Milkmaid, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Lady Standing at a Virginal, A Woman Holding a Balance, The Geographer, The Little Street, Woman with a Pearl Necklace, and Woman with a Water Jug.

The video will give you a more detailed explanation, illustrated by many of his works, of Vermeer's magic. And if you believe there are other factors contributing to his popularity, please share them with us in the comments below the YouTube video or below.

 Why do so many people love the art of Johannes Vermeer? It

An artist who went from being very popular, to garbage, to being very popular again.

The Finding of Moses (1904) was painted by the Anglo-Dutch artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema ().

The story in based on Exodus 2:6, in which the daughter of the Pharaoh finds a baby in a basket in the river while she was bathing. The pharaoh had ordered that all baby boys had to be killed, but the mother of this baby Moses decided to abandon him in a floating basket in the Nile River. When the Pharaoh’s daughter noticed the baby, she decided to keep it and raise it.

This painting is a great example of how our taste for art can change over time. Alma-Tadema was a very successful artist during his life, and in 1899 he was even knighted for his work as an artist (making him Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema). But after his death, his work quickly fell out of favor.

In 1950, this painting was sold, but not because of the painting itself, but because of the frame surrounding it. By the end of the 20th century, artistic taste had changed again, and the works of Alma-Tadema are quite popular again today. And this particular painting was sold in 2010 to a private collector for almost $36 million.

 An artist who went from being very popular, to garbage, to

Do you prefer the before or after of this Vermeer painting?

Recently, a “new” painting by Johannes Vermeer is discovered. The first image of Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (c. 1657-59) is the version after the recent restoration. Not only have the colors brightened throughout, but a large image of Cupid on the wall has suddenly appeared. The second image shows the version before the restoration, and the last image is a version halfway the restoration.

Only 35 works by Johannes Vermeer are known, so this is a major update to his oeuvre. The underpainting of the Cupid was discovered already in 1979, but it was thought initially that Vermeer had removed it himself of the composition. Not a strange thought as Vermeer is known to have made substantial changes to his compositions during the process.

But scientific research has revealed that the cover-up of the Cupid had only happened decades after the rest of the painting was made. It is an intriguing case, as Vermeer’s paintings are renowned for their calmness and balance, and this newly restored painting shows a much busier composition than the ones we are used to.

I am curious to hear what your thoughts are of this new version?

 Do you prefer the before or after of this Vermeer painting?

Do you enjoy the lighting in Baroque paintings?

Anna and the Blind Tobit (c. 1630) was probably painted by the Dutch Baroque master Rembrandt (1606-1669), though some people also attribute it to Gerrit Dou (1613-1675), a successful student of Rembrandt.

It shows Anna on the left and her blind husband, Tobit, to the right of her. Anna is winding some wool on a frame while Tobit is patiently waiting. They are waiting for the return of their son Tobias. He had left to collect money that was owed to Tobit.

Tobit was made blind by God to test his faith. In the apocryphal book named after him, he is portrayed as a faithful man who did many good things. But they had gotten poor at their old age, and they had sent their son to collect some money that was owned by them. And after many adventures, Tobias would come to them with a miraculous cure for his father’s blindness.

Rembrandt (or Dou) has chosen to portray their patience instead of the miracle that would happen later. And he focuses on the light and the contrasts between light and dark, typical for the Baroque style.

 Do you enjoy the lighting in Baroque paintings? Anna and

Childhood of Christ (1620) was painted by the Dutch Baroque artist Gerrit van Honthorst (1592-1656).

It shows Jesus in the workshop of his earthly father Joseph. Jesus is holding up the light for him in the carpenter’s shop, something that an apprentice would do at his age, but in this particular case obviously a symbolic reference to the light that Jesus brought to the world.

The Bible is not telling much about the childhood of Jesus, but historically it may not have been unlikely that a scene like this would have taken place. Joseph was a carpenter and it was common that children learned the profession of their father, starting at a relatively young age by assisting them with simple tasks.

At the same time, the presence of just a single candle as the source of light was one of the specialties of Van Honthorst. The strong contrasts between light and dark are called chiaroscuro, a technique that Van Honthorst learned from Caravaggio, and perfected in his own works.

 A young Jesus helping his father. Childhood of Christ

The Annunciation (1629) was painted by the Dutch artist Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588-1629).

Ter Brugghen lived in the Protestant part of the Seventeen Provinces (current-day Netherlands and Belgium), and so it is a bit puzzling why he painted a Catholic scene like the annunciation. Possibly he was inspired to paint this theme during his travels to Italy, where he was inspired by the art of Caravaggio and his Italian colleagues.

It shows the modest Virgin Mary, her eyes closed after she has witnessed the arrival of an angel. The angel brings a white lily, which is the symbol for Mary’s purity. And above them we can see a white dove, representing the Holy Spirit.

The whole scene looks oddly “modern” for something painted early on in the Baroque period, and perhaps that was possible because Ter Brugghen was not a Catholic, and thus not as worried/familiar with the Catholic conventions of painting the annunciation.

 The arrival of a youthful angel. The Annunciation (1629)

Philosopher in Meditation (1632) was probably painted by the Dutch Baroque master Rembrandt (1606-1669).

It does not look as smooth and sharp as some of the other oil paintings by Rembrandt, and that is one of the reasons that there is (and has been) some uncertainty about this painting. For a long time, this painting was known as Philosopher in Meditation, but if you look carefully, you can identify two figures in this painting. So, art historians have been looking for a better explanation.

And after a lot of research, a reference to this work was found in a catalogue from 1738. There, it was listed as Tobit and Anna waiting for their son Tobias. This explains the second figure on the right. And an engraving of this image was found in which a third person, standing on the stairs, is visible, though it is impossible to see in the painting, due to deterioration over time.

As you can see, the painting is not in great condition, and that has fueled the suggestions that this may not be a painting by Rembrandt but by someone else (even though it carries a signature of Rembrandt). Art historians have been digging in the old catalogues to find more evidence on the provenance of this painting, and while progress has been made, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the artist of this painting and its subject.

So, if you have any insights or ideas, feel free to share. We may help the Louvre (where this painting is on display) solve the mystery ;-).

 Do you like to be an art detective? Philosopher in

Nobody seems to be worried abou the bad weather that is approaching.

Figures at Work in a Winter Landscape, an Approaching Storm Beyond (1859) by the Dutch artist Frederik Marinus Kruseman (1816-1882) who specialized in Romantic landscapes.

It is a beautiful combination of a landscape and a genre painting. The dominant elements in this work are the church and the winter landscape, but Kruseman has made an effort to instill some life.

We can see some workers on the right, two boys playing on the frozen lake, a woman climbing the stairs to the church, a person with some firewood. All minding their own business, unbothered by the circumstances.

Finally, if you have heard of artists with the surname Kruseman before, there were several members in his family who became successful painters, all with their unique styles.

 Nobody seems to be worried abou the bad weather that is

A typical Dutch scene by the most versatile Dutch artist in history.

The Mill (1645-1648) was painted by the Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669).

While it may not be the sharpest image painted by Rembrandt, the painting shows a typical Dutch sight, the windmill. It is set against a mixed sky, with dark clouds on the left and a cloudy-blue sky on the right. It thus features some of the strong contrasts between light and dark that Rembrandt was known for.

Interestingly the attribution of this work to Rembrandt is still not universally accepted, despite it having been part of the private collection of Philippe d’Orleans, the younger brother of King Louis XIV. The recent restoration of this work has helped to convince some that this is an original Rembrandt, and that is also how the National Gallery of Art lists this work in its collection.

 A typical Dutch scene by the most versatile Dutch artist in

View of Bentheim Castle (1650s) was painted by the Dutch landscape painter Jacob van Ruisdael (1629-1682).

It is the first of three landscape paintings from the Baroque period I post today. The other two will be by Claude Lorrain and Adam Elsheimer.

The current painting is a mix between fantasy and reality. The castle is real, but Van Ruisdael places it in an imaginary landscape, with a stream in the foreground, and some people in the middle right for scale.

The castle is located in Germany and is more than one millennium old (though it has been renovated and rebuilt several times). In reality, it is not located on a mountain, but is only slightly elevated above its surroundings.

Van Ruisdael would have a big impact on the landscape artists from the Low Countries, as well as on British artists like John Constable.

 Who is your favorite landscape painter? View of Bentheim

A female perspective on the floral still life.

Posy of Flowers, with a Red Admiral Butterfly, on a Marble Ledge (c. 1700) was painted by the Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750).

As a female in a male-dominated artistic society, Rachel Ruysch decided to choose her own path, focusing on floral still lifes, a pretty new genre at that time. And during her long and prosperous career, she created numerous of these floral still lifes. And she was very successful during her life and after, especially for a female.

The composition is relatively simple compared to the works of Hans Zatzka I posted earlier today, but the colors are spectacular. And unlike many other wonderful female artists, she is surrounded by much less controversy, as she signed and dated her paintings properly, making it hard for people over the centuries to attribute her work to other (male) artist (a thing that happened to the works of most female artist of the 15th till 18th century).

 A female perspective on the floral still life. Posy of

The Baroque introduced stark contrast between light and dark to increase the drama depicted. Rembrandt could really take this to the extreme is some painting, like he did in this Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes (1634). The painting is part of a series of heroic woman that Rembrandt painted between 1633 and 1635.

 The Baroque introduced stark contrast between light and

The lion is protecting the ships from up high.

A Coign of Vantage (1895) by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) shows three well-off women standing on a balcony high above the port, watching the ships.

It is a typical Classical scene by Alma-Tadema, showing the wonderful life of the riches in the Roman Empire. The luxurious dresses, colors, and flowers give the hint of a world full of decadence.

And then there are a couple of other noteworthy aspects here. First the way in which Alma-Tadema captured the marble, something that he was very skilled at. And second, can you see the difference between the water and the sky? Alma-Tadema blended them in a creative way, but somehow it does not really distract from the scene we are watching. Third, do you notice the typical Roman galleys in the water?

 The lion is protecting the ships from up high. A Coign of

Some final wise words from mom before committing herself!

Some Good Advice was painted by Hendrik Jacobus Scholten (1824-1907). It shows one of those special moments on the wedding day.

And you can see some Dutch fashion from over a century ago. Some things have changed, but many moms are still providing advice to their children about their (upcoming) marriage.

Scholten painted interior scenes filled with people that remind a bit of the 17th-century Dutch artist Pieter de Hooch.

 Some final wise words from mom before committing herself!

Rembrandt painted characters from all walks of life! This Polish Nobleman in the National Gallery of Art is one of the more exotic ones.

There has been extensive debate who Rembrandt depicted here, with suggestions ranging from the Polish King to it being a self-portrait.

 Rembrandt painted characters from all walks of life! This

Rembrandt would have been a great comic book illustrator.

The Three Crosses (1653) by Rembrandt is created by a combination of etching and engraving, something that Rembrandt was incredibly talented at.

It shows Jesus during his crucifixion in the center. He is flanked by the two criminals who were crucified at the same time. The scene is lit by a large light beam that comes from heaven (and you can see the darkness on the left and the right). It provides us with a view of the people witnessing the crucifixion. They include some Roman soldiers on horseback to the left of the center cross. To the left of the cross is the mother of Jesus (Mary) weeping and supported by some other women.

The etching is inspired by Matthew 27:45–54. And Rembrandt created prints of this work at several different stages of the engraving/etching process. So, he basically created an initial version, made some prints, updated the engraving, made more prints, etc. In that way, he could create a dynamic story that consisted of multiple images.

 Rembrandt would have been a great comic book illustrator

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) has inspired thousands of artists both with his paintings of dancers and with his Impressionist/Realist painting style.

Among them was Nicolaas van der Waay (1855-1936), who painted this beautiful Strike of the Ballerinas.

 Edgar Degas (1834-1917) has inspired thousands of artists

This painting by the Dutch artist Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer (1839-1902) is appropriately titled "The Lady in Red", and it was painted around 1870.

It shows a fall landscape with a couple that seems to be out on a date. Both are dressed at their best, but it is the splendid red silk dress of the woman that catches most of the attention.

It immediately reminds me of Chris De Burgh's famous song with the similar name, starting with "I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight, I've never seen you shine so bright..."

 🎶 Lady in Red 🎶 This painting by the Dutch artist Frederik

Frans Hals was a revolutionary portrait painter who was able to capture his sitters' personalities like no one else.

This is the Portrait of Tieleman Roosterman (1634), and I just narrated and edited a cool video discussing this work in detail. See the link in my bio.

Hals managed to capture the confidence and outfit of this internationally successful clothing merchant in a spectacular way.

Let me know in the comments below or on YouTube if you like the art by Frans Hals, and which of his works is your favorite.

 Frans Hals was a revolutionary portrait painter who was

Gauguin (first image) or Van Gogh (second image)? When Gauguin visited Van Gogh in 1888, they made paintings at similar locations and compared their results afterward to learn from each other.

These are their versions of autumn in the Alyscamps.

 Gauguin (first image) or Van Gogh (second image)? When

Hals, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer or someone else? These and more artists are part of the free, virtual audio tour of the Rijksmuseum in the Amuze app: www.amuzeapp.com

 Who is your favorite Dutch painter? Hals, Rembrandt, Van

Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1625) was painted by the Dutch Caravaggisti Gerrit van Honthorst (1592-1656).

And while many artists have painted Mary Magdalene regretting her sins, she almost never shows tears. But in this painting she does, as we can see a big tear just below her left eye.

Mary Magdalene played an important part in the New Testament, but there are many later stories that have described additional aspects of her life, many of which have been hard to verify. A somewhat more persistent one among those stories is that later in life she moved to a cave in the south of France, where she would constantly repent her sins.

This scene can be inspired by this story, showing Mary Magdalene in front of a crucifix and holding a skull with her left hand. She is truly regretting the mistakes she made during her life and is asking God for forgiveness.

Van Honthorst painted it in a dramatic Baroque style, with strong color contrast, some nudity, and a big tear.

 Can you see her tears? Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1625)

Judith Leyster was one of the first successful female artists! Head of a Child is a beautiful portrait in the style of Frans Hals.

Leyster gave up her independent career after marrying her artistic husband and started to support him.

 Judith Leyster was one of the first successful female

Vincent van Gogh took inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e art and copied various Japanese works.

For The Courtesan he copied and expanded a print of Keisai Eisen and added his vibrant colors to it to make it shine.

Van Gogh's version (in color) is in the Van Gogh Museum and the original by Eisen is in black and white.

 Vincent van Gogh took inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e art

The Cannon Shot (1680) by Jan van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) is not part of a battle, it is rather a salute as the ship is about to leave.

We can see that the sailing ship with three masts is raising its sails to leave. And the effects of the cannon shot are beautifully illustrated by the enormous clouds of smoke.

The Dutch artist Van de Velde created a beautiful contrast between the calm sea and the chaotic effects of the cannon shot. It is as if time stands still for a moment and the sea wishes the ship good luck on its mission.

 Can you hear the blast? The Cannon Shot (1680) by Jan van

Van Gogh could turn the simplest things into something beautiful.

Corridor in the Asylum (1889) was painted by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) when he was staying in a psychiatric hospital.

In 1889, Vincent van Hogh admitted himself to the mental asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. He was struggling with his mental health, but throughout his 12-month stay he continued to paint a lot. And many of those works are now considered masterpieces, just think about the many wheat fields, cypresses, and flowers he painted during that time.

But Van Gogh could also turn his own bedroom and the corridor of the asylum into something beautiful. It does not look like a happy place, with the narrowing corridor, but Van Gogh just captured his emotions with beautiful colors. He created this work to give his biggest supporter and brother, Theo, an idea of his circumstances in the asylum.

 Van Gogh could turn the simplest things into something

A still life like only Van Gogh could make.

Still Life: Vase with Pink Roses (1890) was painted by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) during a optimistic period.

Vincent van Gogh had been for almost 12 months in a mental asylum when he made plans to leave. He felt that he had a better control of his mental state and was quite optimistic about his future. He wrote his brother Theo that he had "worked as in a frenzy. Great bunches of flowers, violet irises, big bouquets of roses..."

And this beautiful bouquet of flowers was one of them. Whereas, his sunflowers are more famous, Van Gogh loved to capture other flowers as well. And it is the combination of colors that make this piece unique. Before Van Gogh, nobody would choose a green background and a green table for a painting filled with green leaves. But by creating subtle gradations of green, Van Gogh is able to create a unique result using a very limited palette.

 A still life like only Van Gogh could make. Still Life:

Few artists were more unique than Hieronymus Bosch.

Cutting the Stone (c. 1494) was painted by the unique Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516).

The scene we see look a bit weird, but if you are familiar with some of the works by Bosch you may know that he has painted much stranger scenes and figures. On the left, we see a surgeon wearing a funnel-shape hat. He is removing the stone of madness from the head of the seated patient. The monk dressed in black and holding a drinking vessel serves as the doctor’s assistant. And, on the right, a woman with a book on her head watches the surgery.

There is an inscription in Gothic script on the top and bottom, and this can be translated as: “Master, cut the stone out, fast. My name is Lubbert Das.” The original word for stone in Dutch is “kei,” and Bosch uses this as a little joke. The word “kei” also means bulb, and if you look carefully, the surgeon seems to remove a flower bulb from the man’s head.

And while the artist Hieronymus Bosch and his works are surrounded by a lot of mystery, it is clear that the scene he painted is supposed to be funny. And the characters are probably inspired by some local theater of the time.

 Few artists were more unique than Hieronymus Bosch. Cutting

Do you love the works of Johannes Vermeer or have you never understood why his works are so popular?

If you spend 90 seconds of your time watching my latest video (see the link in my bio), I will try to explain the brilliance of one of his works.

Woman Holding a Balance (c. 1664) is on display in the National Gallery of Art.

 Do you love the works of Johannes Vermeer or have you never

Compared to oil paintings, watercolors can lead to brighter and fresher results.

This evening dinner painted in 1920 by Nicolaas van der Waay is a great example of this brightness and freshness.

 Compared to oil paintings, watercolors can lead to brighter

"All I look for in painting is a way of getting through life" -- Vincent van Gogh (1888) in a letter to his brother, just before painting Night Cafe.

He wrote this is a period where he was struggling with his mental health. And painting was his routine to get through this period.

 "All I look for in painting is a way of getting through

Girl in Red Kimono before a Mirror (1894) was painted by the Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1932).

It is the bright, glimmering red kimono with the white flower print that dominates this painting. And the mirror adds an extra dimension to this work. In combination with the dark-red-brownish background, it provides an intriguing painting.

Breitner used a 16-year old model for this painting. Her name was Geesje Kwak, and he made a series of paintings of her wearing a Japanese kimono, focusing not so much on the model herself but on the colors and patterns on the kimonos that he asked her to wear.

Breitner painted it in an Impressionist style. He did not try to capture the scene in detail with smooth brush strokes, but rather focused on the impact that these beautiful kimonos had on their environment.

Why do so many people love the art of Johannes Vermeer? It

An artist who went from being very popular, to garbage, to

Do you prefer the before or after of this Vermeer painting?

Do you enjoy the lighting in Baroque paintings? Anna and

A young Jesus helping his father. Childhood of Christ

The arrival of a youthful angel. The Annunciation (1629)

Do you like to be an art detective? Philosopher in

Nobody seems to be worried abou the bad weather that is

A typical Dutch scene by the most versatile Dutch artist in

Who is your favorite landscape painter? View of Bentheim

A female perspective on the floral still life. Posy of

The Baroque introduced stark contrast between light and

The lion is protecting the ships from up high. A Coign of

Some final wise words from mom before committing herself!

Rembrandt painted characters from all walks of life! This

Rembrandt would have been a great comic book illustrator

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) has inspired thousands of artists

🎶 Lady in Red 🎶 This painting by the Dutch artist Frederik

Frans Hals was a revolutionary portrait painter who was

Gauguin (first image) or Van Gogh (second image)? When

Who is your favorite Dutch painter? Hals, Rembrandt, Van

Can you see her tears? Penitent Mary Magdalene (c. 1625)

Judith Leyster was one of the first successful female

Vincent van Gogh took inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e art

Can you hear the blast? The Cannon Shot (1680) by Jan van

Van Gogh could turn the simplest things into something

A still life like only Van Gogh could make. Still Life:

Few artists were more unique than Hieronymus Bosch. Cutting

Do you love the works of Johannes Vermeer or have you never

Compared to oil paintings, watercolors can lead to brighter

"All I look for in painting is a way of getting through

The beauty of a kimono. Girl in Red Kimono before a Mirror