Vermeer's The Geographer: The Dutch Golden Age

Vermeer’s The Geographer is successful in conveying the scientific attitude of the Dutch Golden Age. The painting portrays a middle-aged man, presumably a geographer, illuminated in light. His holding a compass in his left hand, as well as a block, holding down a piece of paper that is also bathed in light. Various geographic tools are present around the room to present the man’s craft. A patterned rug in the foreground, hanging over the table, has many organic lines to show the objects beneath it. A bureau with books and a globe on it, a patterned chair, and a nautical map of “All the Sea Coasts of Europe” line the background. The man has a slight smile, and is contemplating something as he looks out of a window. He has just thought of a good idea, as shown by the light, and is thinking about how to put the idea into action.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who made advancements in optics and created the field of microbiology, is believed by some experts to have posed for the painting. The man’s robe is a keizersrokke, a Japanese imperial robe that was rare in Holland, reflecting the Dutch East India Company’s monopoly on trade with isolationist Japan. The colors of the robe contrast the man from his surroundings, giving him an active, lively look. The man is also looking east toward the rising sun, symbolizing Oriental trade, which is also reflected in the globe, turned to the Indian Ocean. Dutch riches from trade helped finance learning and culture, which is shown in the elegance of the room: the patterned chairs and quilts, the high windows, and a fancy map. The books in the background are also a symbol of the Dutch Golden Age: book publishing thrived in the Dutch culture of