Young Girl with a Water Pitcher
by Johannes Vermeer
c.1664-65, Holland
Oil on canvas, 18 x 16 in.
Young Girl with a water pitcher by Vermeer is a great example of the Baroque era. It symbolizes a rise in the merchant class. Many of the details of this painting represent wealth and travel. Holland had a magnificent increase in the merchant class population, bringing a great amount of wealth along with it. Wealth and travel are both depicted in this amazing painting. The map on the back wall can depict great wealth and travel. The red carpet on the table would be a symbol of the wealth of this household as well, red was a color most notably associated with the wealthy. The leaded glass window and pearls in the jewelry box are just two more examples of the wealth of this rising merchant class state.
Vermeer had an amazing talent in optical effects in paint. The effects of the light seem to bring a sense of blonging to the images. I love the way the light seems to travel from the window down her arm. The light then continues down in to her sleeve. There is such a wonderful attention to the light and the natural direction it would be travelling. This painting is almost like a photo in the essence of light.
The Young Woman with a Water Pitcher is a beautiful combination of the rising merchant class, wealth, and Protestant culture.
More information:
Walter Liedtke, Vermeer and the Delft School, New York, 2001.
I was amazed at the connection you concluded about the merchant class form this painting. The symbolization of the color red and the leaded window was information I did not know and would not have caught, so that was great to have pointed out. I also liked the way you compared the picture to a real photo because of the light. It is truly amazing how Vermeer was able to capture the light as he did in his works. I like this photo a lot also.
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