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Music and reading are recurring elements in his works. “The Interrupted Music Lesson” or “La Femme au Lute” shows his passion for musical instruments, “La Liseuse à la Fenêtre” contemplates forever a letter whose secrets are unknown.
Vermeer paints women with respect and delight in their daily activities, idle or active, lady or milkmaid, he is fascinated by the light that emanates from their skin, their hair and their finery. “The Girl with a Pearl Earring”, a universally known work, is rightly nicknamed “The Mona Lisa of the North” as her eyes keep their secret forever.
Her three-quarter position gives the viewer the impression of being the sole object of her gaze and this unique pearl reflects both the innocence and the modernity of her youthful features. This canvas perfectly shows the combination of yellow and blue, cherished colors of the painter.
Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window, Johannes Vermeer, 1657-58, oil on canvas. Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden