Woman holding weight

Date: 1663
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 38 x 42,5

Brilliant work raises many questions, which apparently can not be answered with much certainty. The girl holds at the exact center of the painting a pair of scales. Although it would be quite natural, if they were full, they are empty. Did the women tham from the opened box? Or is there another reason? The light from the window illuminates the wall and the woman and focuses viewer's attention to her face. She is concentrated, but simultaneously in inner harmony, and observes the scales. She is dressed according to the fashion of Vermeer's period, and it may seem that she is pregnant. We are not sure, because it was customary to wear a skirt with multiple layers.
Vermeer prefered to paint scenes from everyday life, but often they bears a deeper meaning: behind the woman is a paiting in the Flemish style, depicting the Last Judgment. Does it mean, that the scales are actually weighing our deeds? Or deciding what is good and evil? Do the pearls and coins represent ephemerality of earthly world, pride and vanity? And the Last Judgment means eternity? Or has the weighing something to do with a possible pregnancy of the girl?
In contrast with the jewelry on the table there is a mirror on the wall, a symbol of vanity and vainglory. But the mirror can also be a symbol of truth and self-awareness.

Vermeer painted picture Woman holding weight in 1663. Prevailing color of this fine art print is brown and its shape is portrait. Original size is 38 x 42,5. This image is printed on demand - you can choose material, size and finishing.

Johannes, Jan or Johan Vermeer (1632-1675). Dutch painter. He enjoyed painting scenes from life and common situations in the households of townspeople. During his lifetime, he did not become famous and in his time, he was rather a provincial painter. He worked carefully and slowly; he loved to work with light and used brilliant colours with expensive pigments. His art was rediscovered in the 19th century and he has since slowly become a recognized and sought-after painter. He allegedly worked with the obscura camera to achieve true perspective and composition. Often his paintings depict one or two figures at the window. His most famous work is considered to be Girl with a Pearl Earring.