Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt Overview

Johannes Vermeer

• Born in Delft, Netherlands in 1632.
• Created a small but highly regarded body of work, with only 35 paintings known to scholars (out of an estimated 50).
• Enjoyed patronage from a devoted individual who purchased half of his works.
• Supported by his wife and mother-in-law.
• Master of descriptive ambiguity.
• Relatively unknown during his lifetime, with his works remaining in the Netherlands until after his death.
• Specialized in genre paintings, often featuring a single light source and complementary colors (blues and yellows).
• Focused on domestic and interior scenes of middle-class life.
• Art served as visual expressions rather than narrative storytelling.
• Paintings offered intimate glimpses into everyday life.

Rembrandt van Rijn

• Worked across various artistic genres, including landscapes, religious, and historical paintings.
• Talented draftsman.
• Remarkable for depicting profound human qualities with detailed expressions.
• Widely known for his portraits, which portray subjects with a sense of intimacy and affection.
• Portrayed himself frequently.
• Depicted Saint Bartholomew, omitting the sword typically associated with his martyrdom, to humanize the portrayal.
• Self-portraits served as autobiographical statements, reflecting his life through artistic representation.
• Born in the Netherlands.

Dutch Republic (1581-1795)

• Rapidly became a prosperous nation, fueled by trade in timber, cheese, carrots, cauliflower, and tulips.
• Acquired colonies in South America, West Africa (access to sugar), Sri Lanka, and South Asia.
• Powerful empire and dominant economic force, with significant influence in foreign trade (sugar, timber, and slaves).
• Highest per capita income in Europe.
• Produced an immense volume of paintings, distributed through private commissions and a robust trade network.
• Governed by elected citizens, rather than kings or queens.
• Showcased religious tolerance and a large middle class.

Systems of Representation

• Systems of representation are how people and things are depicted and perceived.
• Examples include portraiture, icons, and beauty standards.
• Often overlooked as they are ingrained in daily life.

Identity

• Identity encompasses how people perceive and express themselves.
• May be innate or developed through social interactions.
• Portrayals of humans are commonly used to represent identity.

Portraiture

• Portraiture captures a likeness of an individual.
• Aims to depict the personality of the subject.

Sfumato

• Technique enhancing the sculptural qualities of skin.
• Creates a smoky or hazy effect in paintings.
• Used by Leonardo da Vinci (e.g., Mona Lisa).

Genre Painting

• Depicts people and events from everyday life.
• Usually intended for domestic spaces, not for palace display.
• Reflects the popularity of ordinary life as a subject matter.

Specific Works (Artist, Title, Date, Dimensions [optional], Location)

• Woman Holding a Balance, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1664, 40 x 35 cm, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., Widener Collection
• Girl with a Pearl Earring, Johannes Vermeer, 1665, 44 x 39 cm, Mauritshuis, The Hague
• Self-Portrait, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1659, 123 x 104 cm, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., Andrew W. Mellon Collection

Explore the lives and works of two of the most celebrated Dutch painters, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn. Learn about Vermeer's unique genre paintings and his mastery of light, as well as Rembrandt's ability to express deep human emotions in various artistic forms. This quiz will test your knowledge of their contributions to art history.