Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By framing off such a small world to look at—from the blue chair in the foreground to
the wall in back—Vermeer forces us to appreciate the tiniest details, the beauty of every-
day things. We can meditate on the tiles lining the floor, the subtle shades of the white
wall, and the pale, diffused light that seeps in from the window. Amid straight lines and
rectangles, the woman's billowing dress adds a soft touch. The painting of a nude cupid
on the back wall only strengthens this virgin's purity.
• Also in Room 25, you'll find...
Van Hoogstraten—
A Peepshow with Views of the Interior of a Dutch House
(c.
1655-1660)
Look through the open end of this ingenious device to make the painting of a house interior
come to three-dimensional life. Compare the twisted curves of the painting with the illu-
sion it creates and appreciate the painstaking work of the dedicated artist. Painted on the
top of the box is another anamorphic projection.
• Enter the adjoining Room 24.
