Vermeer's Street in Delft, a review

    Today's subject is a landscape, Jan Vermeer's Street in Delft.   As with other paintings examined, I will write about this one as if I know nothing of Vermeer, a little of Holland or Delft.   Again, the object is simply to enjoy the painting by finding the clues left by the artist.
    First the composition.  The painting has a design very similar to the Kirchner painting, Bergheuer
reviewed in March.  A light yellow base cements a huge triangle coming from the right balanced by the triangle of the sky and smaller shapes to the left.  The angle of the line in the cobblestone street breaks up that rectangle, sending our eye right into the little alley.  Also notice the left edge of the major building (on the right) is dead center.   So huge an object to weight down the whole right side, but it does not - why?  I think because the facade of all the building fronts are punctuate with windows and doors.  How intriguing!  How we wish we could pop in to see interior spaces.
    So what is happening?   It seems to be summer and midday because the sunlight is casting no deep, long shadows.   The vine on the left is full and very healthy.  The clouds show no distinct movement, they are fluffy and bright.  It is simply a beautiful day in Delft, a perfect time for an artist to be outside painting his home.
   Three women are depicted and how truly important they are.  Each is completely engaged in her work and separated from each other.   Listen.   Can you hear anything?   Children playing, birds chirping, carts or horses coming?   No.  This is simply a lovely image of a normal work day in Delft, and it is why I am attracted to it.  Here is a normal day, with normal people.  This is how they dressed, and how they worked over 350 years ago.   And, I have read that today we could travel to Delft and see this very street, much as it is in the painting   How rare to peek back in time - Thanks to Jan Vermeer for giving us this gift.
   Make Art a part of your life, its a beautiful thing to do!

Comments

  1. charguthApril 5, 2019 at 6:00 PM

    It is un to review a painting we've studied. This is such a quiet atmosphere. It's a bright day but I see no shadows. Skies and clouds always fascinate me. I like Vermeer. Thankyou

    ReplyDelete
  2. JudithMarie5April 6, 2019 at 10:39 PM

    This is one of many Vermeer favorites of mine. The serene calm of the motif is engaging, the architecture is a personal draw, overcast clouds mean less or no shadows. People humanize any painting, the viewer's eye is drawn to them. Any architecture is of personal interest, Vermeer excels.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wayne Thiebaud, Sunset Streets

Image
   In giving title to this landscape, California artist, Wayne Thiebaud not only provides the location, but also the time of day.  Knowing that Thiebaud is a California artist provides the last clue to guessing the probably location.  Smartly, The San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art purchased this painting for its permanent collection in 1986, a year after it was completed.  Sunset Streets is an oil on canvas measuring 48" x 35".      Wayne Thiebaud was born in 1920 and resides in California. He is one of several artists creating a distinct California aesthetic using heavy pigment and exaggerated color.   He is best known for his commonplace objects, figures, and landscapes. of which this is a perfect example.    The composition of this work is amazing.  Right down the center, at a slight tilt is this blue-black stripe, K shape, beginning with a heavy base and capped with a large triangle of sorts.  The painting is...
Read more

Jimmy Baker, "Double Tillman"

Image
   It has been a while since we have looked at a contemporary artist and new work, and this particular image by Jimmy Baker is somewhat different from others of his.   At first glance our painting for this week appears to be a landscape, maybe a setting or rising sun.  Our attention is drawn to the circle just slightly above middle center, and the arches above and swirls of color high light it.  Look at the lower half, the earth.  The light has highlighted rocks or wood chips, but we are unable to distinguish more.   I think this painting allows us to determine for ourselves what to make of it.   Is this a dying earth, or one recovering from tragedy?         Jimmy Baker (1980-) is from Ohio.  He was born here, received his education in Ohio, and is presently and associate professor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  His work has achieved critical acclaim with solo exhibitions in Europe and across t...
Read more

Childe Hassam "The Avenue in Rain"

Image
    I probably should have saved this for the 4th of July, but that is a little far off and this work is among Childe Hassam's finest.      I have known of Childe Hassam (1859 - 1935) for a very long time, but only recently did Wikimedia straighten me out about the correct way to pronounce his first name.  It seems the "e" is silent; and his last name is pronounced as written, with two syllables.        From what I have read, Hassam was a pretty sharp guy, and possibly a little  arrogant.  He created 3,000 some works of art in his career and lived his entire adult life on the proceeds of their sale.  This is quite remarkable.  Most artists, (at least before 1930) had to supplement their income by teaching, commissioned portraits or careers outside the art field.  But Hassam figured out not only how to market his work, but also what subjects would be popular.  Timing is always a big issue, and he wa...
Read more