Idea

Narrative attempt no. 2

An angelic and peaceful woman living a life of temperance is sitting alone in her temple weighing her soul but the innocent-looking jewellery lying on the table is trying to tempt her into her old life of vanity. She feels warm and cosy in her shrine, sheltered from the elements.

Narrative attempt no. 1

An angelic woman sitting alone is awaiting her judgement by the Holy Spirit. Her surroundings echo her dedication to the Lord and minimal life of temperance. In her quest to avoid eternal damnation, she is cut-off from the outside world, praying silently in solitude. God’s Divine light seeps through the window of her underground asylum and illuminates her thin face which is at peace. This contrasts with the thick walls around her drowning in the shadows. Although there is not a soul in sight, she does not feel lonesome up in the highest mountain; sitting above the white clouds she feels closer to the Creator. She feels protected but not because of the sheer massing surrounding her. Her Bible is shining behind her like her faith, bathed under the white light falling upon it from a cross shaped opening, just bright enough to let her recite the word of God. Her temple is at one with nature, built from the earth into which it sits. The wind rages and the lightning strikes the ground creating a hellish bang but she continues to do her thing, oblivious to the ruckus on the outside. She feels warm and cosy in her shrine sheltered from the elements.

Relationship between painting & 17th century Denmark

• 17th century-> Dutch Golden Age-> Dutch trade, science and art among the most acclaimed in the world
• Cheap energy sources-> trade, industry, arts and sciences flower
• Dutch were most economically wealthy and scientifically advanced-> Produces large wealthy merchant class
• Revolt against Spain-> war fought over religious economical and political freedom ends in independence of the Dutch which boosts national morale
• Clergy had no worldly influence. Roman catholic church suppressed
• Art-> Denmark leader in developing the subjects of still life, landscape and genre painting (scenes of everyday life). Church art non existent

This period of high affluence correlates with the meaning of the painting-> Painting is opposite to the condition of the Dutch who were wealthy and more focussed on worldly possessions and vanity; who sidelined religion and eternal consequences of their actions. Hence painting is reminding them of how they should behave and change their life of one involving temperance.

Meaning

The woman is sitting between the ‘Last Judgement’ painting and jewellery on the table. She is clearly ignoring the jewellery and the mirror which means that vanity is not important to her. Her scales are empty-> She is balancing spiritual considerations or her soul. She appears calm and worry-free-> she is prepared for her judgement.

Mirror suggests her self knowledge. Hence the painting suggests the importance of moderation, self awareness and a full understanding of the implications of the final judgement. It suggests one to live their lives with temperance and moderation.

The painting within a painting offers an important clue that Christ’s last judgement is echoed by the woman’s own actions.

Before her are earthly treasures. Behind her is the symbolism of the eternal consequences of her actions on earth. She is acknowledging the importance of the last judgement when weighing her actions in anticipation of the life to come.

Painting Analysis

• Jewellery box and jewellery-> earthly treasures-> represent one’s concern with vanity and material possessions
• Mirror-> Represents vanity and self knowledge-> Notice that the woman is not looking at herself in the mirror
• Woman-> Possibly Vermeer’s wife. Her expression is serene and skin pale and smooth-> upper class woman. Although she has a serious expression, she is at peace
• Dress-> It appears the woman is pregnant but might not be. Maybe because pregnant women are never portrayed in art during this time period. Also during the 17th century it was fashionable to wear bulky layers. Further, it can be speculated that she is wearing the blue outfit of Mary
• Hat-> The style of cap is worn by many of the Vermeer women. It is a customary and functional hat worn in informal and intimate situations
• Jacket-> Worn by upper class women. Made of fur-> common and practical during the 17th century as no central heating invented
• Scale-> Contrary to popular belief woman is not weighing anything. It is placed near the geometrical center of the painting. It becomes literally and figuratively the center of attention
• Window-> Small amount of light filters in from the small opening
• ‘Last Judgement’ painting-> Adds religious basis to painting. Christ is weighing souls
• Focal point-> Orthogonal lines from the edges of painting meet at the balance making it the focal point of the entire work

Chosen Painting

Woman Holding a Balance by Johannes Vermeer (1662 Delft, Holland)
Painting
A woman wearing modest clothing is sitting alone in a dimly lit room. She is holding a balance. There is a painting of the ‘Last Judgement’ in the background. In front of her is a mirror and table. Gold jewellery and pearls are lying in open boxes on the table. The woman seems to be pregnant. She has a calm expression on her face and is fully focussed on the balance. A small patch of light entering through the corner window washes the wall in white.

Composition
• Designed to focus our attention on the scales
• Vermeer endowed it with more allegorical context than his other domestic scenes
• An image of a pure, serene silence in a dim room lit by the light from a window is typical of Vermeer
• Vermeer’s belief: Silence=Purity
• Vermeer’s soft brushwork brings out the maternal tenderness in the woman
• Woman in painting is pregnant-> about to be blessed by a child-> but does not have to put up with the chore and responsibility that came with it yet. This parallels with Vermeer’s own life. He had eleven children. He requested to work in total silence but could not obtain that due to children running around
• Vermeer was not a rich man
• The use of lights: The light from the window and the woman, and the surrounding darkness creates a beautiful compositional balance which is often used by Vermeer in his other paintings. This compositional balance alludes to the balance in the woman’s hands
• Typical Vermeer piece but beautiful in its harmony of light and shadows
• Woman has no knowledge of our viewership. We have no interaction with her
• Colour combinations of blue and yellow were Vermeer’s favourite
• The painting-within-a-painting is characteristic of Vermeer’s detailed and intricate portrait style
• Light and shadow interplay create a serene mood