Vermeer's Milkmaid

This is one of my favorite paintings by Vermeer. It is called 'The Milkmaid'. Vermeer was one of the few dutch painters, and catered to the working class. At that time, their preferal choice of subject were mudane scene, and potraits. The milkmaid is a servant, but is painted with grace and dignity, not lechery or suggestions of laziness, as was the custom in depicting servants. This painting has always been one of Vermeer's most popular. But to me, this is one painting that reminds one that beauty can be pronounced in almost anything we do.

The painting exemplifies the sturdy maid, humbly going about her everyday duties, elevating her to a paragon of homely virtue. She might be seen as the essence of the Dutch character: strong, simple, and direct. The painting style is certainly bold and vigorous, the colors strong and earthy.

Her concentration is directed completely at the milk flow, and the stream of white paint is uncannily realistic. The light from the window adds to the input to this flow, and below the table the blue cloth continues the suggestion of flow. Her concentration is similar to that of a snapshot, as if she were captured by time in her duties. And to remember that she would have modelled this pose for hours, unlike our models today that pose infront of the camera for a few takes and then disappear.

Also concealed in this composition is a set of arcs: the woman's face, bonnet, shoulders, bosom, and her apron; the jug from which she pours and the bowl she pours into; a basket, loaves, and a pitcher on the table present more arcs; the basket and brass box on the wall have arcs in their shape. These arcs contribute to the astounding composition of the painting, making the viewer's eye make the complete circle.

The jug, bowl, pitcher and bread have brilliant impasto sparkles, and the contour of the woman's back and dress is emphasized with a thin white line. This device separates her from the background, and emphasizes the rich azure and yellow of her clothing.

And one cannot definately leave without commenting on Vermeer's profound ability in portraying light. Many have said that perhaps to be so perfect in painting light on household objects, Vermeer could have used a primitive camera; where light is reflected using a set of mirrors onto the canvas to obtain an inverted image. A technique known to us as camera obscura.

With or without this technique, Vermeer's painting proves to be rather absorbing, and pulls us into the fragmentary moment of a maid's life in 16th Century Amsterdam.