The Lacemaker By Johannes Vermeer
In approximately 1669-1670, during the Dutch Golden Age, Johannes Vermeer completed his painting The Lacemaker in the baroque style. The artist Johannes Vermeer creates a sense of calm and solidarity in his work, The Lacemaker, by portraying the figure in a dreamy fashion, using dull colors, and by making the figure seem intent on her work and distant. The woman making lace in the work is portrayed in a dream like fashion. This is created by the slightly fuzzy edges of the shapes in the work. However, this dream like sense is further brought forward by the way in which she is portrayed. The viewer is looking at the woman working as if watching her in a dream, as she carefully works her craft. Which is further enticed by the blankness of the wall behind her, which draws your eye to her, and makes her seem even more solemn. I would also describe this piece as dream-like due to the way that the woman seems to glow in the light, while the rest of the piece seems darker, and is shadowed.
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Dull colors make up the majority of this piece's palette, which reinforces the calm sense that the work elicits.
The dull, blank wall behind the woman draws your eye to the more colorful woman and her work, not distracting you in the least. Even though her dress is bright in contrast to the blue of the fabric and cushion near her, it is still dull in comparison to brighter works of the time. There are some brighter colors in the work, such as the red thread on the cushion and the woman's dress. However, they fit well with the other colors in the work, not contrasting too greatly, thus not drawing too much attention to themselves. This creates a lack of vibrancy, energy or movement in the
painting, The last way that Vermeer enforces the womans calm determination, is the woman herself. She appears to be hunched over her work, gazing intently at the lace that she is weaving. She is holding bobbins and pins in her taut hands. Her hair is pulled back into a bun tight on her head, creating a look that would nowadays be viewed as professional. Something I believe that adds to this woman’s determined gaze is how her body and head are angled away from the viewer, creating the impression that you are an outsider, unacknowledged.
In summary, this paper is about how Johannes Vermeer created a calm and determined atmosphere within The Lacemaker. He did this by portraying the figure in a dreamy fashion, using dull colors, and by making the figure seem intent on her work and distant.
Dull colors make up the majority of this piece's palette, which reinforces the calm sense that the work elicits.
The dull, blank wall behind the woman draws your eye to the more colorful woman and her work, not distracting you in the least. Even though her dress is bright in contrast to the blue of the fabric and cushion near her, it is still dull in comparison to brighter works of the time. There are some brighter colors in the work, such as the red thread on the cushion and the woman's dress. However, they fit well with the other colors in the work, not contrasting too greatly, thus not drawing too much attention to themselves. This creates a lack of vibrancy, energy or movement in the
painting, The last way that Vermeer enforces the womans calm determination, is the woman herself. She appears to be hunched over her work, gazing intently at the lace that she is weaving. She is holding bobbins and pins in her taut hands. Her hair is pulled back into a bun tight on her head, creating a look that would nowadays be viewed as professional. Something I believe that adds to this woman’s determined gaze is how her body and head are angled away from the viewer, creating the impression that you are an outsider, unacknowledged.
In summary, this paper is about how Johannes Vermeer created a calm and determined atmosphere within The Lacemaker. He did this by portraying the figure in a dreamy fashion, using dull colors, and by making the figure seem intent on her work and distant.