Art History

Running Head : WOMAN HOLDING A BALANCE

Johannes Vermeer 's Woman Holding a Balance

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Johannes Vermeer 's Woman Holding a Balance

At around 1664 , a painter by the name of Johannes Vermeer created the Woman Holding a Balance ' Though the art work is composed of several elements and objects , the focus falls on a woman holding a scale on her hand , about to weigh something . The woman is wearing a dress and a white veil , and her face is expressed as a calm as possible . At

the back of a woman is another framed painting , entitled The Last Judgment ' and in front of her is a mirror . On the table are some white pearls which came rushing out from jewelry boxes (Janson , 2008

Overall , the painting looks perfectly organized despite the numerous objects around the woman . The artist was able to direct the viewer 's attention to the subject by capturing the exact center of the canvass If someone were to draw a line from the corners of the frame diagonally to the other end , the point where the woman holds the scale with her right hand is the area on which these lines would intersect . This precise location done by Vermeer brings utmost attention to the scale in hand

The scale was also emphasized by the use of space . Looking closely at the painting on the background , one can notice that the lower edge is not created as a straight frame . The portion of the edge in front of the woman is slightly higher than the one at her back , giving enough space for the scale to be painted without overlapping the frame . The artist also used some depictions of horizontal lines , primarily to stress out the balanced state of the scale . One example is the edge of the frame Aside from giving space , it also mimics the straight line found in the scale . This can also be seen in the little finger of the woman , which was extended in a horizontal manner similar to the scale and the frame

Another element that Vermeer used , and is known for using it , is the blending of light and shadows . This contrast of lightness and darkness gives a kind of three-dimension feeling to the painting . It gives the image motion , and yet the balance suggests stability . This mixture of contrasting events provides additional interest and attention to the painting

Aside from using artistic elements in his painting , Vermeer also used a lot of images ' or symbols that would allow viewers to interpret the artwork . One of these is the light . Light is used in art as a symbol of purity or divinity , such as in paintings of saints and angels . The woman can then be described as someone with divine powers , or someone having a pure heart and soul . This can be strengthened by the pearls on the table , which is usually associated with power and rank , like queens and the royalty

A far more interesting symbol is...